Peter Pan & Wendy illustrated by Gwynedd M. Hudson (1931)

[Brutus]

I have now uploaded the illustrations from one of my favourite editions of Peter Pan: published in 1931 by Hodder & Stoughton, and illustrated by Gwynedd M. Hudson (ca. 1882-1935). The first edition had a dustjacket and red-orange cloth cover, and was later reprinted with a blue cloth cover for a cheaper, special Boots the Chemists edition (a circulating library run by the chain of pharmacies).

Gwynedd M. Hudson studied art at the Brighton School of Art. She was a figure painter, illustrator, and poster artist. Among other works, she also illustrated a lavish edition of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Her version of Peter Pan & Wendy is also lavish in an Art Deco style. The layout, typesetting and lettering are exquisite. Apart from the full page illustrations, she also hand-lettered the chapter titles and captions. The book is decorated with stunning chapter headings as well as endings, and a series of running vignettes depicting the procession of the lost boys pursued by the pirates and Hook, themselves pursued by the Indians, followed by various beasts and (of course) the crocodile.

Like F D Bedford, her inspiration came from the novel, not the stage production and Peter Pan is represented wearing a costume made of leaves, not the elaborate costume seen in Alice Woodward's or Flora White's illustrations.

[Hannah Grippo]

These are beautiful. Thank you so much!