Graphic Christmas Numbers from 1885, 1890, 1894 & 1895.
London: Graphic : An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper, 1885-1895. Hardcover. A nicely bound set of the handsome Christmas numbers of "The Graphic" for 1885, 1890, 1894 and 1895, filled with their special color Christmas woodcuts, some by famous artists. Of Australian interest is a melodramatic story by Grant Allen "Triumph of Civilization", set in North Australia (1894 p.3-5). In a rather bizarre tale for a Christmas issue, Camilla sets off in yacht to northern Australia to find mother who has been seized by 'savage black fellows'. She discovers 'the Thing that had had once been Ruth Mordaunt' – in grass skirt with 3 light-brown children. The mother grabs pistol, shoots her daughter & son-in-law and drowns herself to avoid family shame. It is illustrated by Hatherell, 2 illustrations, one in color. [#50 (Christmas Number [19 Nov] 1894.] Other content includes a Kipling story, "The Devil and the Deep Sea", illustrated by Frank Brangwyn (1895 p. 8); A supplement to the 1894 number entitled "The World of Sport in 1894", which includes composite views of cycling polo in Dublin, Oxford & Cambridge boat race; amateur billiard tournament, horse racing, Hockey at Richmond; Whippet dog racing, Ladies driving competition and club polo match, sledding on Parliament Hill, Rugby match Blackheath v. Hartlepool, Lacrosse at Richmond, Snaresbrook v. Surbiton, Baseball at Balham, tea, billiards, cocoa, theater (col. plates) dogs & cats, Caldecott illustrations.
Folio, early red cloth stamped in green on spine and front boards. Back wrapper for 1890 (pp 35-36) not present, repaired tear in the front wrapper. Otherwise very good condition. Item #7807
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