AN ACCOUNT OF THE SYSTEMS OF HUSBANDRY ADOPTED IN THE MORE IMPROVED DISTRICTS OF SCOTLAND Volumes I & II

Edinburgh: Printed by James Ballantyne & Co. For Archibald Constable, et al, 1813. Book. Good. Hardcover. Second Edition. 8vo [23 x 14 cm]. Pp. vol. 1: xii, 439, portrait frontispiece and 4 leaves plates; vol. 2: x, 279 + 215 [Appendix], frontispiece plate. Contemporary manuscript letter/receipt dated Sept 12th 1816 loosely inserted. Publisher's original paper-covered boards with paper title labels to the spine, worn with boards attached by threads only, paper covering to spine chipped, now protected in clear removable clear plastic acetate. Contents good and tight, a little foxing or spotting to edges of some leaves, some sections toned. A good copy. [Note on the bindings - it was common or even usual, for publishers at this time to sell books "in boards", for the purchaser to then have bound up to their own specification by their chosen binder. Due to the utilitarian nature of the boards such original bindings are rarely in very good condition, but there are distinct advantages in books bound in original boards, essentially because they are unadulterated and, if published with them, the half-titles, publisher's catalogue, and front and rear blanks will still be present, whereas if subsequently bound up, are so often discarded, and crucially the pages will not be trimmed.].