Antiquarian Books

Whenever we visit interesting places, I always seek out books about them. Ideally, I find antiquarian books, preferably in gorgeous leather bindings, with lots of plates and in excellent condition. We both love books which show ruins as they were, before they were “discovered” by the antiquarians of the mid 19th Century.

Following our recent trip to Bath, I tracked down this beautiful tome. It was for sale in the States, but after a spot of negotiation (haggling) the seller and I came to an agreement with which we were both happy. It arrived this weekend, and I am beyond thrilled with it. Most of the editions of this book are octavo with few, or no illustrations. This edition is sumptuously illustrated, with lots of maps. It certainly is a thing of great beauty.




I've also purchased a few other books. A couple of little books about the beginnings of Brighton, I knew that Chris would be fascinated with these books about his home town. It's so interesting to see the development of Brighton from its early days.

Edward Baines' Companion to the Lakes and Winkles Cathedral Churches are two really interesting books. I’ve been looking forward a nice edition of Baines for quite a while, so was very pleased to find this.