William Strang Illustrations - 1895

Bunyan, John (1628-1688) Strang, William – Illustrator

The Pilgrim's Progress [Full Bickers & Son Morocco] [William Strang Illustrations]

London: John C. Nimmo, 1895.
A SUMMIT OF LATE-VICTORIAN BOOK PRODUCTION, PAIRING BUNYAN’S FOUNDATIONAL ALLEGORY WITH THE ‘ETCHING REVIVAL’ GENIUS OF WILLIAM STRANG.
This 1895 Nimmo edition is elevated by a lush, full morocco binding from Bickers & Son, featuring intricate gilt tooling and five raised bands. Strang’s 14 plates depart from standard Victorian sentimentality, offering a moody, psychological intensity that redefined the visual landscape of the spiritual journey for the modern era.

KEY FEATURES 
+++ Visuals: 14 expressive plates designed and etched by William Strang, each protected by a captioned tissue guard. 
+++ Binding: Full blue morocco by Bickers & Son; spine richly tooled in gilt; marbled endpapers; all edges gilt; stamp-signed. 
+++ Content: The complete narrative of Christian’s spiritual journey, first published in 1678 and here presented in its finest 19th-century format. 
+++ Associated Names: Illustrated by Scottish artist William Strang (1859–1921), a central figure in the late-century etching movement. 
+++ Provenance: Includes a discrete bookplate on the front pastedown. 
+++ Imprint: London: John C. Nimmo, 1895. First Edition Thus. 
+++ Specs: 9 inches tall / xii, 379 pages.

CONDITION: Near Fine -- A clean and bright example. The bindings are tight and square with light, professional rubbing to the joints and small scuffs to the raised bands. Text-block is clean with light, even age-toning. Some leaves and plates show minor expected toning; a very well-preserved 'Gift Copy' of the era.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE -- 
While The Pilgrim’s Progress has never been out of print since 1678, the 1895 Nimmo edition marks a significant moment in the 'Return to the Book Beautiful'. By commissioning William Strang, the publisher aligned Bunyan’s 17th-century Puritan vision with the avant-garde aesthetics of the Etching Revival. Strang’s work—blending realism with a deep, psychological mood—echoes the moral weight of the text in a way that traditional 19th-century illustrators often missed.

The binding by Bickers & Son reflects the peak of the English trade-binding tradition. Renowned for their high-quality craftsmanship and 'West End' elegance, Bickers was the binder of choice for collectors who demanded both durability and luxury. This volume represents the intersection of religious tradition and high-Victorian bibliophilia, designed for the library of a serious late-century scholar.

SUBJECTS: John Bunyan, William Strang, Bickers and Son, Christian Allegory, Etching Revival, Victorian Bindings, Religious Literature, English Classics, Fine Binding, Illustrated Books.

Item #20119

Price: $650.00