A History and Description of Modern Wines. Second Edition, with considerable additions, and a new preface developing the system of the port wine trade

London: Printed for Whittaker & Co...., 1836. 8vo, 220 x 136, pp. 423 [424], steel-engraved head- and tail-pieces, original embossed cloth, title in gitl on spine; some slight wear to binding and spine a little faded, but a very good copy. Although Redding (1785 - 1870) earned his living as a journalist, he is best remembered for this book, first published in 1833. Oxford DNB gives a short history of its success: "From 1841 Redding devoted himself more exclusively to books, his versatility and industry being alike remarkable. His most influential work was his History and Description of Modern Wines (1833, with later editions in 1836, 1851, and 1860); the text was based on careful personal observation and gleanings from many sources, including the treatise of 1787 by John Croft of York. By advocating the reduction of the duties on French wines, Redding's work did much to educate public opinion on this subject and to prepare the way for the rectification of the tariff in 1860, and it was superseded by J. L. W. Thudichum's Treatise on Wines only in 1894."