Lot 294: THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1868, ISSUE NO. 1470

This is an original issue of The Illustrated London News, published on Saturday, February 22, 1868 (No. 1470, Vol. LII). The front page features a large wood engraving titled Young St. George, after a painting by the Swedish artist Egron Sellif Lundgren (1815–1875), which was then on display at the Fine-Art Gallery, 5 Haymarket. The engraving has been finished with hand-coloured watercolours, as indicated by a printed HAND COLOURED stamp on the left margin. The masthead incorporates the traditional wood-engraved panoramic view of London, featuring St. Paul’s Cathedral and river traffic on the Thames. Several secondary markings are present: an ink stamp at the top left reading YOUNG ST. GEORGE with the year 1868 handwritten in ink directly below; a printed label at the top right stating GUARANTEED TO BE 124 YEARS OLD; and a small white adhesive label with the printed numeral 7 at the bottom left. The publication information notes it was registered at the General Post-Office for transmission abroad and priced at fivepence with a supplement.