1877 Rare Book - The Pilgrim's Progress illustrated by H.C. Selous & M.P. Priolo

Author: John Bunyan. Illustrated by Henry Courtney Selous & M. Paolo Priolo.
Title: The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come. With notes by the Rev. Robert Maguire, M.A.
Publisher: London, Paris & New York, Cassell, Petter & Galpin, no date (circa 1877).
Language: Text in English.
Size: 10.5 x 8 inches.
Pages: xvi, 399 pages + publisher's catalogue.
Binding: Very good original Victorian publisher’s full green cloth binding, richly decorated in black and gilt on the upper cover and spine, with blind-stamped decoration to the rear board (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown, light rubbing and wear to the extremities, some surface soiling - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. 
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing, toning and staining more noticeable on preliminary and final leaves - as shown, front endpaper inner hinges show some wear but remain firm - as shown). Illustrations: Profusely illustrated with 102 wood engravings by Henry Courtney Selous and M. Paolo Priolo, including full-page plates, vignette illustrations, and richly decorated ornamental borders throughout.


The book: The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come is John Bunyan’s monumental Christian allegory, first published in 1678 and widely regarded as one of the most influential works in the history of English literature. Chronicling the spiritual journey of Christian from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, the work blends theology, moral instruction, and vivid narrative imagination. This late nineteenth-century Cassell, Petter & Galpin edition is especially appealing for its large format and extensive illustrative program, bringing Bunyan’s allegory vividly to life through dramatic Victorian wood engravings. 

The author: John Bunyan (1628–1688) was an English Puritan preacher and writer whose legacy rests primarily on The Pilgrim’s Progress, one of the most widely read books in the English language after the Bible. Written during periods of imprisonment for nonconformist preaching, Bunyan’s works combine spiritual urgency with remarkable narrative clarity. The Pilgrim’s Progress has remained continuously in print for over three centuries and has been translated into more than two hundred languages.

The illustrators: Henry Courtney Selous (1803–1890) was a prominent English painter, illustrator, and lithographer associated with the Royal Academy, best known for his historical and literary subjects. His illustrations for The Pilgrim’s Progress are among the most admired visual interpretations of Bunyan’s text. M. Paolo Priolo collaborated on the engravings, contributing to the richly detailed and expressive visual program that characterizes this Victorian edition and enhances its narrative and devotional impact.