From London Bridge to Lombardy by a Macadamised Route

1869, the first edition

Author

Publisher

Printing Details

First edition. Hardback, bound in blue cloth with gilt and black titling and decoration to spine and upper board. 21 × 14.5cm, xii, map + 202pp [2], 16pp ads. Errata slip at title page.

This is a rare first edition of W R Richardson's light-hearted and witty account of a trip taken from London Bridge to Lombardy in Italy by train and coach, describing how much easier it in in his day that his fore-fathers. He travels through Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and France, observing the locals, their customs and art etc. The book is illustrated with a map of the route, and smaller illustrations within the text by Sydney Prior Hall.

Condition

A fair to good copy. The blue cloth is quite heavily rubbed, with the heaviest at the spine ends and corners. The front hinge is cracked but secure, school prize label to front pastedown. The main body of text is in good order, with clean pages (some light finger marking to the prelims), and the inner binding is holding though pulled in a few places. The book remains in good readable condition.