Only 600 copies printed
CROSTON, James (F.S.A.). Nooks And Corners of Lancashire And Cheshire. A wayfarer’s notes in the Palatine Counties, Historical, Legendary, Genealogical and Descriptive. London; John Heywood. 1882

Heavy 4to.; original dark brown cloth panelled in black and lettered and decorated with armorial devices in gilt to spine and upper board, top edges rough, others untrimmed, coated black endpapers; pp. [v], vi-xxii + 455, including index, printed on good coated stock; title-page in red and black, with text-engravings throughout, and other full-page plates; a very good, sound copy of a vulnerable and heavy book, gilt bright to cover, somewhat dulled to spine, spine ends bruised with 3 or 4 tiny closed nicks, shelf-rubbing and small wear to forecorners, joints mildly rubbed but no splitting; inner hinges cracked but neatly made good and very sound; internally crisp with diffuse internal foxing intermittently affecting spreads but always pale brown and not disfiguring; very scarce, especially in attractive condition.

First edition, one of only 600 copies printed, and sold out to subscribers before publication, with an 11-page list of these among the prelims.  A dedicated volume ‘preserving those fragments of tradition, experience and biography which give to history its living interest’ (Preface).  Rather than a desiccated history it takes the form of a traveller’s narrative as the author rambles through the countryside and byways looking at hidden gems, and grouping interesting anecdotes and stories by locality.

The author’s aim here is ‘to assemble the leading facts and incidents relating to special localities and to present the scenes of human life and action in a readable and attractive form’.

The extensive subscriber list includes notable figures such as Isaac Watt Boulton, engineer (1823-1899), His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, and Rupert Potter (father of Beatrix Potter).