The front cover is bound in a claret-coloured cloth and features letters and images in gold gilt impressing. The title, “The Pageant,” appears in all capital letters, centred beneath the top edge. The title is followed by a willow leaf and a small flower. Directly beneath the title, the year “1896” appears, centred and followed by an identical willow leaf and flower. The cover features six gilt-impressed doves: three spaced along the spine, and another three spaced along the vertical edge. All six doves face right toward the vertical edge.