Days with Sir Roger de Coverley: Reprint from the Spectator. (London and New York: Macmillan & Co., 1886) Read it here.

If you are hesitant to dive into Addison and Steele’s classic periodical The Spectator (1711 – 1712) but perhaps want to take a more leisurely stroll, check out this illustrated gift book from the 19th century with essays and stories taken from The Spectator, featuring the character of country gentleman Sir Roger de Coverley, illustrated by Hugh Thomson.

(I love how Thomson and the typsetter have so thoroughly incorporated the illustrations into the surrounding text. This would have made a lovely gift back in the day.)

For more information on The Spectator, see Joseph Addison’s author profile on this site.

Note: These images are in the public domain. For more information, see A Primer on Image Rights on OBA.