Happy England

London: Adam & Charles Black, 1909. Cloth. Good. 9" by 6.5". Helen Allingham. An expanded early reprint of this lovely illustrated biography of Helen Allingham, the Victorian watercolourist. Early edition of Happy England as painted by Helen Allingham, with a memoir and descriptions by Marcus Bourne Huish. In the original publishers pictorial cloth binding.A lovely biography of the Victorian illustrator and watercolourist. Helen Allingham was a successful artist who studied at the Royal Academy School, later known as the Royal College of Art, and is recognised for her work in The Graphic newspaper, and her illustrations for Thomas Hardy's 'Far from the Madding Crowd' in Cornhill Magazine in 1874. Although women artists at the time would typically struggle to make an impact, Allingham was very influential and had an impact on the art of Vincent Van Gogh. Densely illustrated with eighty colour plates and one monochrome plate as the frontispiece. Collated, complete. The plate facing page 87 is present but detached.With eight pages of advertisements to the rear.Prior owner's ink inscriptions to the list of illustrations. In the original publisher's cloth binding. Externally, sound. There is some bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities. The spine is slightly faded and there are some light marks to the boards. The hinges are starting but firm. Internally, generally firmly bound. The plate facing page 87 is detached. The pages are bright and clean with the very odd spot and light age toning. Prior owner's ink inscriptions to the list of illustrations.  Good