Wanderings and Excursions in South Wales:

London: Tilt and Bogue; Simpson and Co.; and Orr and Co.; Wrightson and Webb, Birmingham; Webb, Liverpool; Simms and Dinham, Manchester,, [1837?]. Prince of Wales binding A fine pair of bindings by London's leading binder of the 1840s and 1850s, with appropriately Welsh heraldic devices, perhaps done in celebration of the birth of Edward, the eldest son of Queen Victoria, in 1841. As Prince of Wales from 8 December 1841 to 22 January 1901, the future Edward VII held the record for longest-serving heir apparent until overtaken by the current holder of the title. The front pastedowns have the library shelf labels of Thos. D. Murphy. This appears to be the Iowan art publisher and author Thomas D. Murphy (1866-1928), whose company had a branch office in London. He travelled to England frequently and wrote a number of travel books, including British Highways and Byways (1908) and In Unfamiliar England (1910). Most institutional listings of these undated Birmingham-printed editions give the suggested date 1837. A note at the end of each volume states that the two volumes were issued uniform with each other, and that they are "new and improved" editions. Two works, octavo (213 x 132 mm). Uniformly bound in near-contemporary red hard-grain morocco by Hayday with the gilt arms of the Prince of Wales centrally on the covers, with the three feathers and Welsh harp devices alternately in corners and in spine compartments, yellow endpapers, silk bookmarks, gilt edges. Together 100 engraved plates and 2 large folding maps coloured in outline (the map of North Wales with small cloth tape repair on verso). A touch of rubbing at extremities, but a fine set.