KATE GREENAWAY'S ALPHABET

London and New York: George Routledge & Sons, 1885. Very good plus.. First edition of this miniature alphabet book illustrated by Golden Age great Kate Greenaway. Kate Greenaway achieved great success in 1878 with her first solo publication UNDER THE WINDOW, and quickly became a household name. This achievement came after years of study at the National Art Training School and the Heatherley School of Fine Art, where she rubbed shoulders with the likes of Elizabeth Thompson (later Lady Butler), Edward Burne-Jones, and Walter Crane. Her style, featuring rosy-cheeked children and young adults, captures a romantic and cheerful brand of Victorian childhood nostalgia; she was one of the most well-known illustrators of the Golden Age, and her art adorns everything from books to greeting cards to home decor.
This little volume may seem simple in its scope, but is evidence of Greenaway's appreciation for art history; during her education, she spent time studying illuminated manuscripts at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the letters inhabited by playful children in this volume find their aesthetic ancestors in these manuscripts.
A lovely little book. 2.75'' x 2.25''. Original color pictorial wrappers, saddle-stitched. Illustrated in color throughout. [32] pages. Some light chipping of color to corners and at spine; light scuffing to wrappers. Illustrations sharp.