1831 Victor Frankenstein and the creature - Theodor Von Holst (1810-1844)

This is the first illustration of Frankenstein and his creature published in Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. This was in the 3rd edition published in 1831. Hope you enjoy the image and the history below.

Artist: after Theodor Von Holst (1810-1844) by William Chevalier (1804-1866) [engraver]
Title: Victor Frankenstein observing the first stirrings of his creature
Medium: engraving
Size: 170 x 110mm, image size 93 x 71mm
Signed: yes
Notes: Published by Colburn & Bentley in 1831.

For Frankenstein, Holst delivered a 2.75 by 3.63-inch rectangular design that was then engraved by W. Chevalier. There is no mention of this drawing surviving, but at least we have the engraving.

Mary Shelley’s description
The author Mary Shelley described Frankenstein's monster as an 8-foot-tall creature of hideous contrasts: His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips.

Editions
The first edition of Shelley's Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus was published in 1818. This 1831 illustrated third edition was reprinted in 1832, 1836, 1839, 1849.

This engraving comes after the 1836 reprint, which is of a perfect image. The 1839 edition has the same blemishes on, and features the missing bottom part of ‘N’ at the end of Frankenstein as this engraving.

Lettering
Frankenstein. "By the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull, yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs. ... I rushed out of the room.". Page 43. T. Holst del. W. Chevalier sculp.