Macmillan's New Cranford Series and Illustrated Standard Novels

[Twelve Illustrated Standard Novels listed on a bookmark (dated 10 September 1895) found in my copy of Gryll Grange (1896)]

Below is a complete list of Macmillan’s "New Cranford Series" (1890–96) and "Illustrated Standard Novels" (1895–1901). I compiled a draft of this list at least three years ago (the oldest version of the file) or, more likely, nine years ago (when I bought my copy of no. 35: Thomas Love Peacock's Gryll Grange). I have since updated it by trawling the internet for any reference to the series: there are surprisingly few. In the end I compiled it from original advertisements in Macmillan publications (as here, here and here).

John Chidley, Discovering Book Collecting (1998), 95, describes the Cranford Series thus:

The Cranford series is the name given, in retrospect, to a number of distinctive reprints of classic tales by Macmillan, who commissioned some fine artists to illustrate them. They are recognisable by the dark green cloth bindings with gilt edges, which have full and rich gilt pictorial blocking on the covers and spine. The first in the series are two Washington Irving titles, Old Christmas (1875) and Bracebridge Hall (1876), both illustrated by Randolph Caldecott, although the volume which gave its name to the series, Cranford, illustrated by Hugh Thomson, was not published until 1891.

This appears mostly right. It appears that Macmillan, aware of the popularity of some of its illustrated classics, began advertising volumes as "uniform with" previous titles that had been successful. The name that stuck was Cranford (thus, "Cranford Series") but The Vicar of Wakefield appears to have been even more commonly mentioned in advertisements in the mid-1890s.

So, for example, in New Outlook: A Family Paper 48 (16 December 1893): 1151, Macmillan advertised under the heading "New Illustrated Books for the Holiday Season." the following:

"Our Village … illustrations by Hugh Thomson, Crown 8vo cloth gilt, or edges uncut … Also an Edition du Luxe, limited, super royal 8vo, hand-made paper, uniform with 'Cranford'"

"Coaching Days and Coaching Ways … illustrations by Herbert Railton and Hugh Thomson. Uniform with 'Cranford,' 'The Vicar of Wakefield,' 'Old Christmas,' and 'Bracebridge Hall.' Crown 8vo ornamental cloth gilt, gilt edges, or uncut, with paper label … Also an Edition du Luxe, limited, super royal 8vo, hand-made paper, uniform with 'Cranford'"

"The Humorous Poems of Thomas Hood" illustrations by Charles E. Brock. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt or edges uncut … Also an Edition du Luxe, limited, hand-made paper, Just Ready" etc.

As you can see, some are listed as uniform with Cranford and other publications, some are not, though they are clearly identical in binding options. Two years later, in The Publishers Weekly 48 (December 1895): 151, Macmillan advertised under the heading "Cranford Series.—New Volumes." as follows:

Marmontel's Moral Tales, Selected by George Saintsbury and illustrated by Chris Hammond, in 12mo "cloth extra, gilt edges … Uniform with 'The Vicar of Wakefield,' 'Cranford' etc"

Mary Russell Mitford's Country Stories, Illustrated by George Morrow in Crown 8vo "cloth, gilt edges … Uniform with 'Our Village' in the same Series"

The Spectator in London illustrated by Ralf Cleaver "Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt edges … Uniform with 'The Vicar of Wakefield,' 'Cranford' and other volumes in the same Series" etc.

Again, some are listed as "uniform with" Cranford and other publications, but now the other publications are called a "series." Compiling a complete list of these Cranford-like volumes (which might be called the original Cranford series) would be time consuming, requiring a trawl through all Macmillan advertisements that use the phrase "Uniform with" in connection with either Cranford or The Vicar of Wakefield, or a volume that was elsewhere advertised as "Uniform with …"

* * * * *

Rather than do that, what I have done is compile a list of all the titles that are advertised as belonging to the much-more-clearly-defined "New Cranford Series" (1890–96) and the "Illustrated Standard Novels" series (1895–1901).

There are sixteen titles in the "New Cranford Series"—mostly published between 1892–94 [1890(1); 1891(1); 1892(3); 1893(5); 1894(3); 1895(1); 1896(2)] and there are forty titles in the "Illustrated Standard Novels" series—mostly published between 1895–97 [1895(12); 1896(13); 1897(10); 1898(1); 1899(0); 1900(3); 1901(1)].

I am most familiar with the "Illustrated Standard Novels" series, particularly with the Thomas Love Peacock volumes. I was a serious collector of Thomas Love Peacock for a long time with the intention of compiling a complete bibliography of his works, including all reprints up to 2000. Since I could not afford the first (and some of the earliest) editions of his works, I sought copies of all of the nineteenth-century reprints in original bindings and all of the early twentieth-century reprints in dust wrappers. (I also bought later editions, but I did not have to try hard to do that!) My enthusiasm to do another bibliography waned in the end and I have not updated either my 125-item shelf list, or my draft SOHO-style Bibliography since 2007.

At some stage prior to buying my copy of Peacock's Gryll Grange and, in the midst of my enthusiasm for collecting bibliographical information concerning all of the Peacock reprints, I noted that, according to Eric Quayle, The Collector’s Book of Books (London: Studio Vista, 1971), 112, all of the volumes in "the Cranford Series" first appeared in dust wrappers. So, I went looking and, eventually, found one of the Macmillan Illustrated Standard Novels editions of Peacock: the copy of Gryll Grange that illustrates my previous post.

I also collected information, and examples of, all of the different bindings that appeared on the Macmillan set of Peacock's works: there are at least three, and possibly four, of these. (I will post photos of these—and other bindings I can find good images of—later.) These bindings are:

[A] UK edition: red cloth blind stamped with a floriated M pattern, untrimmed edges. All copies with surviving dustwrappers are bound thus. [See first image above; advertised in 1906 as "ornamental cloth binding, 2s 6d"]

[B] UK edition: blue cloth with a gilt peacock pattern, gilt edges. [Advertised in 1906 as "cloth elegant, gilt edges (Peacock edition), 3s 6d"]

[C] US edition: grey/blue cloth blind stamped with a floriated M pattern, trimmed edges. I have only one volume bound thus.

[D] large paper and limited editions: I have seen copies described by booksellers as "large-paper" in editions limited to 200 to 250 copies—the "Editions du Luxe" in the 1893 advertisement quoted above. But, not having seen one, I am not sure of the actual appearance and size of the binding.

Francis Edwin Murray, A Bibliography of Austin Dobson (1900), 26–27 (item XV) [= a volume in "The New Cranford Series"] records eight printings/binding combinations for Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield (1890), which appear to represent the three binding possibilities advertised (so closely do they match that I suspect the description is based on advertisements alone):

[A] no. 2. green cloth/untrimmed edges; ditto 5 (1891: 2nd ed.); ditto no. 7 (1892: reprint); ditto no. 8 (1892: reprint)

[B] no. 1. green cloth/gilt edges; ditto no. 4 (1891: 2nd ed.); ditto no. 6 (1892: reprint)

[D] no. 3. red cloth/untrimmed edges; Murray describes his no. 3 as "large paper. Imp. 8vo. Hand-made paper. Red buckram, paper label, edges untrimmed."

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There is practically nothing in the way of scholarship on this series. But, it appears that the series is discussed in—though I have not seen—Michael Sadleir, XIX Century Fiction: A Bibliographical Record Based On His Own Collection, vol. 2 (1969), 140ff [no. 3750], who cites Thomas Balston, “Illustrated Series of the Nineties,” Book-Collector’s Quarterly 3 [Part IX] (January–March 1933) and 4 [Part XIV] (April–June 1934). References to the five known wrappers are from G. Thomas Tanselle, "A List of Examples, 1891–1900, of British and American Publishers' Printed Book- Jackets, Boxes, and other Detachable Coverings" in "Book-Jackets of the 1890s," Studies in Bibliography 58 (2007–8 [issued 2010]), pp. 224–304.

* * * * *

New Cranford Series (1892–96)
16 titles (listed alphabetically, by Author)
[NB: see update below]

1. Joseph Addison et al., Days with Sir Roger de Coverley (1892), illus. by Hugh Thomson.

2. Austin Dobson, Coridon’s Song and Other Verses from Various Sources (1894) Introduction by Austen Dobson, illus. By Hugh Thomson.

3. Elizabeth Gaskell, Cranford, With a Preface by Anne Thackeray Ritchie (1891), illus. Hugh Thomson.

4. Oliver Goldsmith, Vicar of Wakefield (1890), Preface by Austen Dobson, illus. Hugh Thompson.

5. Bothers Grimm, Household Stories, trs. Lucy Crane (1893), illus. Walter Crane.

6. Thomas Hood, Humerous Poems (1893), Preface by Alfred Ainger, illus. by C. E. Brock.

7. Washington Irving, Bracebridge Hall (1892), illus. by Randolph Caldecott.

8. Washington Irving, Old Christmas (1892), illus. by Randolph Caldecott.

9. Washington Irving, Rip Van Winkle and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1893), Introduction by George H. Boughton, illus. by George H. Boughton.

10. Washington Irving, The Alhambra (1896), Introduction by E. R. Pennell, illus. J. Pennell.

11. Joseph Jacobs, ed., The Fables of Æsop (1894), illus. R. Heighway.

12. Joseph Jacobs, ed., The Most Delectable History of Reynard the Fox (1895), illus. W. Frank Calderon.

13. Mary Russell Mitford, Our Village (1893), illus. by Hugh Thomson.

14. R. B. Sheridan, The School for Scandal and The Rivals (1896), Introduction by A. Birrell, illus. by Edmund J. Sullivan.

15. Jonathan Swift, Gulliver’s Travels (1894), Introduction by Sir Henry Craik, illus. C. E. Brock.

16. W. Outram Tristram, Coaching Days and Coaching Ways (1893), illus. Herbert Railton and Hugh Thomson.

* * * * *

[Sixteen Illustrated Standard Novels—"issued monthly"—listed on Gryll Grange (1896)]

Macmillan’s Illustrated Standard Novels (1895–1901)
40 titles (in alphabetical order, by Author)

1. Jane Austen, Emma (1896), Introduction by Austin Dobson, illus. Hugh Thompson. [Tanselle 86.94 (UCLA)]

2. Jane Austen, Mansfield Park (1897), Introduction by Austin Dobson, illus. Hugh Thompson.

3. Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion (1897), Introduction by Austin Dobson, illus. Hugh Thompson.

4. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (1895), Introduction by Austen Dobson, illus. Charles E. Brock.

5. Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility (1896), Introduction by Austin Dobson, illus. Hugh Thompson.

6. George Borrow, Lavengro, The Scholar, The Gipsy, The Priest (1896), Introduction by Augustine Birrell, illus. J. Sullivan.

7. J. Fenimore Cooper, The Deerslayer (1900), illus. H. M. Brock.

8. J. Fenimore Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans (1898), Introduction by Mowbray Morris, illus. H. M. Brock.

9. J. Fenimore Cooper, The Pathfinder; Or, The Inland Sea (1900), illus. C. E. Brock.

10. J. Fenimore Cooper, The Pioneers (1901), illus. H. M. Brock.

11. J. Fenimore Cooper, The Prairie (1900), illus. C. E. Brock.

12. Benjamin Disraeli, Sybil, Or, The Two Nations (1895), Introduction by H. D. Trail, illus. E. Pegram.

13. Maria Edgeworth, Belinda (1896), Introduction by Anne Thackeray Ritchie, illus. Chris Hammond

14. Maria Edgeworth, Castle Rackrent and The Absentee (1895), Introduction by Anne Thackeray Ritchie, illus. Chris Hammond.

15. Maria Edgeworth, Helen (1896), Introduction by Anne Thackeray Ritchie, illus. Chris Hammond

16. Maria Edgeworth, Ormond (1895), Introduction by Anne Thackeray Ritchie, illus. Carl Schloesser.

17. Maria Edgeworth, Parent’s Assistant; Or, Stories for Children (1897), Introduction by Anne Thackeray Ritchie, illus. Chris Hammond.

18. Maria Edgeworth, Popular Tales (1895), Introduction by Anne Thackeray Ritchie, illus. Chris Hammond.

19. John Galt, The Annals of the Parish and The Ayrshire Legatees (1895), Introduction by Alfred Ainger, illus. Charles E. Brock.

20. Charles Kingsley, Westward Ho! (1896), 2 vols., illus. C. E. Brock. [Tanselle 86.95 (Godburn)]

21. Samuel Lover, Handy Andy (1896), Introduction by Charles Whibley, ills. H. M. Brock.

22. Captain Marryat, Frank Mildmay; Or, The Naval Officer (1897), Introduction by David Hannay, illus. by H. R. Millar.

23. Captain Marryat, Jacob Faithful (1895), Introduction by David Hannay, illus. by Henry M. Brock.

24. Captain Marryat, Japhet in Search of Father (1895), Introduction by David Hannay, Illusrated by H. M. Brock.

25. Captain Marryat, The King’s Own (1896), Introduction by David Hannay, illus. by F. H. Townsend.

26. Captain Marryat, Masterman Ready; Or, The Wreck of the Pacific. Written for Young People (1897), Introduction by David Hannay, illus. by Fred Pegram.

27. Captain Marryat, Midshipman Easy (1896), Introduction by David Hannay, illus. by Fred Pegram.

28. Captain Marryat, Newton Forster, Or, The Merchant Service (1897), Introduction by David Hannay, illus. by E. Sullivan.

29. Captain Marryat, Peter Simple (1895), Introduction by David Hannay, illus. By J. Ayton Symington.

30. Captain Marryat, The Phantom Ship (1896), Introduction by David Hannay, illus. by H. R. Millar.

31. Captain Marryat, The Pirate and the Three Cutters (1897), Introduction by David Hannay, illus. by Edmund J. Sullivan.

32. Captain Marryat, Poor Jack (1897), Introduction by David Hannay, illus. by Fred Pegram.

33. Captain Marryat, The Snarleyyow (1897), Introduction by David Hannay, illus. by H. R. Millar.

34. James Morier, The Adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan (1895), Introduction by the Hon. George Curzon, illus. H. R. Millar.

35. Thomas Love Peacock, Gryll Grange (1896), Introduction by George Sainsbury, illus. F. H. Townsend. [Tanselle 96.88 (Spedding)]

36. Thomas Love Peacock, Headlong Hall and Nightmare Abbey (1896), Introduction by George Sainsbury, illus. F. H. Townsend. [Tanselle 96.89 (UCLA)]

37. Thomas Love Peacock, Maid Marian and Crotchet Castle (1895), Introduction by George Sainsbury, illus. F. H. Townsend.

38. Thomas Love Peacock, Melincourt (1896), Introduction by George Sainsbury, illus. F. H. Townsend. [Tanselle 96.90 (UCLA)]

39. Thomas Love Peacock, The Misfortunes of Elphin and Rhododaphne (1897), Introduction by George Sainsbury, illus. F. H. Townsend.

40. Michael Scott, Tom Cringle’s Log (1895), Introduction by Mowbrey Morris, illus. J. Ayton Symington.

[UPDATE 9 February 2015: a collector of the New Cranford Series has been in contact with me (thanks Rebecca!) to inform me that there are three more titles in this series, which are not in my list (Tom Brown’s School Days, Tales of the Punjab and Shakespeare’s England). As I stated above, there were numerous titles which were advertised as "uniform" with the New Cranford Series, and it could be an endless task identifying them all. This is what makes collecting so much fun! But as a guide to those looking for a longer list of titles to collect, further digging produced a December 1898 list of 25 Cranford Novels:

The list appears in Book Reviews, 6, no. 6 (December 1898): 25 [Macmillan advertising supplement, "Christmas, 1898. A Select List of Books, Especially Suitable for Holiday Presents"]). It omits some of those that I listed above but adds eight more titles. Combining Rebecca's three with these eight adds the following eleven titles for the collector:

17. Joseph Addison et al., The Spectator in London (1896), illus. by Ralph Cleaver.

18. Austin Dobson, Old English Songs (1894), Introduction by Austen Dobson, illus. By Hugh Thomson.

19. Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's School Days (1896), illus. By Edmund J. Sullivan.

20. Mary Russell Mitford, Country Stories (1893), illus. by George Morrow.

21. Baron de la Motte-Fouqué, Undine (1897), illus. by Rosie M. M. Pitman.

22. George Sainstbury, ed., Country Stories (1895), illus. by Chris Hammond.

23. Flora Annie Steel, Tales of the Punjab (1894), illus. By Lockwood Kipling.

24. W. M. Thankeray, ed., Henry Esmond (1896), illus. by T. H. Robinson.

25. Isaac Walton, ed., The Complete Angler (1896), Introduction by Andrew Lang, illus. by E. J. Sullivan.

26. William Winter, Grey Days and Gold: In England and Scotland (1896), "with numerous illustrations".

27. William Winter, Shakespeare's England (1893), "with 80 illustrations".

[UPDATE: 2 July 2016: After all my pictures disappeared again I decided to give up on external hosts for large versions (1000px) of my image files and, for now on, will stick with the smaller images (500px), which Blogger is prepared to host.

UPDATE: 11 July 2017. For more images of dust jackets for the Macmillan's New Cranford Series and Illustrated Standard Novels, see here]