Robinson Crusoe certainly ranks up there as one of the favorite books for publishers to reissue with new illustrations. The adventure, the scenery, and the familiarity with the story seem to guarantee an audience no matter the era. Daniel de Foe wrote the book in the early 18th century (1719), and I don’t think anyone knows how many editions there have been, nor how many well known illustrators have taken on the challenge of presenting the material in a new light over the subsequent 290 years.

Google has digitized many versions, although none with good illustration reproductions of course. You can, however, browse the various editions to get an idea of the different illustrative styles. HERE is a Google Books example from 1831, a Cochrane and Pickersgill edition, where the entire text is accessible.

Alexander Frank Lydon (1836-1917) was a British artist who produced a lot of natural history work, including parrots, other birds, and fish among much else. His prints and books with his work show up frequently on eBay at fairly reasonable prices. Here is a list of current Lydon items for sale there.

Grooombridge put out this edition in the mid 19th century and I believe it went through at least a few printings over a number of years, but I am not certain. The images below will link to the gallery where all the illustrations from the book are available for free in various high resolution sizes. I have edited and cleaned up most of them.

Title: The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
Author: Daniel de Foe
Artist: A. F. Lydon
Publisher: Groombridge and Sons
Date Published: circa 1865

Robinson Crusoe with his dog and gun

Robinson Crusoe leaves home and is shipwrecked

Robinson Crusoe by means of a raft saves many useful articles from the ship

Robinson Crusoe erects a post on the shore

Robinson Crusoe taking a survey of the Island

Robinson Crusoe awakened from sleep by his parrot

Robinson Crusoe at dinner with his little family

Robinson Crusoe frightened by a goat in a cave

Robinson Crusoe rescuing Friday from the savages

Robinson Crusoe and Friday attacking the savages

Robinson Crusoe surprising the three Englishmen

Friday teaching the bear to dance

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