Wealden Iron..
Bound in original red cloth. Spine a little sunned and slight wear to extremities but otherwise a very good copy. Pictorial bookplate of Gordon Ward and later inscription on front pastedown. 7 cuttings and extracts pasted on to first and second free endpapers and half title and one tipped into p. 147. On rear pastedown two envelopes addressed from author to Gordon Ward pasted in, to form pockets which contain three letters from Straker to Ward dated 1931-32, four dated, 1935 and one undated. Neat ink note on margin of p.218.
£70.00
Details
INCLUDES LETTERS FROM AUTHOR
Publisher
G. Bell & Sons Ltd., Portugal Street, W.C.2,
Place
London
Date
1931
Synopsis
A monograph on the former ironworks in the counties of sussex, surrey, and kent. comprising a history of the industry from the earliest of times to its cessation; together with a topographical survey of the existing remains from personal observation.
Item Description
FIRST EDITION. 8vo. 6.25 x 8.75 inches. xiv + 487 pp.
Illustrations
Illustrated by 9 double page coloured maps, 9 black and white plates, including frontispiece and by numerous black and white photographs, many full page, and some diagrams.
Notes
The scarce first edition of the definitive work on the subject. The first part is a history and analysis of the industry and the second a detailed topographical and descriptive survey, arranged by rivers and accompanied by marked up reproductions of Bartholomew two inch maps to indicate sites of furnaces, forges and bloomeries. Ernest Straker (d.1941) carried out many of his early on site investigations, using trains and local buses, in spite of limitations imposed on his mobility by ill health. This copy was owned by Dr Gordon Ward (1885-1962) a noted historian and antiquarian of Kent, and it includes eight letters from Straker to him relating to Wealden iron matters, including the sites owned by the Sackville family of Knole.
[Stock No. 23219]
