1867 Scarce First Edition - Lilliput Levee, poems of Childhood. Illustrated

Author: (William Brighty Rands). 
Illustrations: J. E. Millais, C. Green, G. J. Pinwell, and B. Bradley.
Title: Lilliput Levee. Poems of Childhood, Child-Fancy, and Child-like Moods. 
Publisher: Alexander Strahan, 56 Ludgate Hill, London, 1867. First Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches 
Pages: 210 pages 
Binding: Near Fine Victorian publisher’s binding in green cloth, richly decorated in gilt and black with ornamental borders and central medallion. Spine gilt with slight toning, boards clean and bright, all edges gilt (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. Original brown coated endpapers intact. A charming example of mid-19th-century decorative clothwork, handled with care over time.
Content:  Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing or staining - as shown). Poems and illustrations present in full. A well-kept and complete copy of this early Victorian children’s poetry volume.
Illustrations: Illustrated with full-page wood engravings by four major Victorian artists: J. E. Millais, C. Green, G. J. Pinwell, and B. Bradley. Their contributions highlight the transitional moment in British illustration when narrative art for young readers was gaining new sophistication and emotional sensitivity.

Estimate: (USD 225 – 250).

The book: First published in 1867, Lilliput Levee gathers poems evoking childhood imagination, moral playfulness, and the sentimental charm characteristic of early Victorian children’s literature. The themes range from whimsical court scenes to moral parables and lyrical reflections on innocence. The book was issued by Alexander Strahan, a publisher associated with refined literary productions of the period.

The illustrators: This edition is notable for the collective work of some of the most influential illustrators of the 1860s. John Everett Millais (1829–1896), a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, brings his narrative precision and emotional clarity. Charles Green (1840–1898), G. J. Pinwell (1842–1875), and Frederick Barnard Bradley (active mid-19th century) contribute complementary styles, together forming a rich visual tapestry that enhances the poetic text. Their engravings reflect the period’s interest in expressive realism and child-centred storytelling.