Sewell, The Bennet sisters. The photos do not capture the detail of each image.
This year we celebrate all things Pride and Prejudice in honor of the novel’s 200 year anniversary. Just recently, Ruby Lane sold a rare, out of print, limited 1940 edition of Pride and Prejudice, illustrated by Helen Sewell, an illustrator of mainly children’s books. People today still recognize the original drawings she created for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House books.
Helen Sewell
About Helen Sewell
Sewell was born June 27, 1896 at Mare Island Navy Yard, California. Her family moved to Guam shortly afterward, where her father, William Elbridge Sewell, served as Governor.
Education
Sewell wanted to be an artist since the age of eight. At 12 years old, she began attending Pratt Institute’s Saturday classes and by 16 years of age was enrolled there full time. This was in place of completing high school. At Pratt, she studied classes with Alexander Archipenko, who was the underlying influence for her broken-cylinder figures.
“Not handsome enough”
Mrs. Bennet
Sewell began her long career working on Christmas and greeting cards; her first illustrated publication was in 1923. She primarily illustrated children’s books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Elizabeth Coatsworth, Eleanor Farjeon, and Frances Clarke Sayer. As with Pride and Prejudice and a 1957 edition of Sense and Sensibility, Sewell also created drawings for a small number of adult publications.
Unguarded moments shows the full page illustration
Sewell’s style included a simple use of color, which at times eliminated black all together, and her use of the white paper. Her line drawings were in imitation of 19th century steel engravings. She died in 1957 at the age of 61.
Illustration of the Gardiners on page 324
About the Limited 1940 edition of Pride and Prejudice
The image at right is of a hardcover, green marbled slipcase. Quarter binding, green marbled board cover, with brown faux leather spine. Heritage edition illustrations are signed by the illustrator. (The commercial issue would have fewer illustrations for the ordinary book buyer.) It is said that photographic images do the drawings no justice, for they are quite detailed when seen in person.
Darcy and Elizabeth dancing
This limited edition book sold for $74 at Ruby Lane. I would gladly have paid more. Other limited edition books are selling for as much as $900 per copy. (Click on images for a larger view.)
Jane Austen's World 
I think that when she illustrated P & P it was still considered a book ofr girls and young women.
In the illustration of Elizabeth and darcy dancing, doesn’t Elizabeth look as though she is the one who was bored and disdainful?
I had never heard of Helen Sewell, so I really appreciate your post, Vic! Her illustrations are wonderful–a little reminiscent of Barbosa but more ‘real’. Thanks so much for the information.
I had never saw anny illustration from Helen Sewell before! Thanks for your post Vic! May I mention your post in my blog? thanks,
Adriana
I especially like the drawing of Mrs Bennet here—it is as funny as the drawing of Mr Collins and Elizabeth in my P&P. There he is saying “to assure you in the most animated language of the violence of my affection” and Elizabeth looks ready to bolt from the room.
Maybe someone here could suggest a provenance for the drawings in my “Heron Edition” that claims to be from a carefully edited version of the 1813 and 1817 texts. It was a book club edition in fake leather-like covers that my Mother would have bought in the 1950s or 1960s, I think.
I think Helen Sewell’s Elizabeth is shown with a more 20th century stature than the dumpy little creatures in contemporary drawings.
Wonderful pictures. Thanks for posting.
Those are really nice. Not what I expected based on her children’s book illustrations. I don’t associate her with the Little House books though (that’s Garth Williams).
What beautiful images. I would love to see them in person someday! I couldn’t help but think of Edward Ferrars’ education with Mr. Pratt while reading this post. My my, Ms. Sewell has quite the connection with a fictional character :) I am so glad that she also illustrated Sense and Sensibility if for that reason alone.
[…] Observando suas imagens percebi dois detalhes. O primeiro que as ilustrações, também de Helen do meu exemplar de Sense and Sensibility de 1957, talvez pelo decorrer dos anos, parecem um estilo mais moderno do que os de Pride and Prejudice. Para ler o texto de Vic e comparar as imagens vejam o post: “Pride and Prejudice Celebration: Helen Sewell’s illustrations“. […]