LIFE ON THE UPPER THAMES. by Robertson, H.R - 1875

London: Virtue, Spalding, 1875. 214 pp, 4to (11" H). Red leather binding with gilt lettering/decoration on boards, spine has five raised bands, gilt lettering, banding/decoration. Marbled endpapers with gilt dentelle edges, all edges gilt. 36 full-page b&w plates plus 74 additional small b&w illustrations - all present. A look at the people who lived along the Upper Thames, the industries engaged in, the sports pursued and the wildlife/plants to be found there in 19th century England. Chapter headings include: The Boat-People; Osier-Cutting; Spinning for Trout at a Weir; Opening a Lock; Sheep-Washing; Water-Lilies; Perch-Fishing; Camping Out; Ballasting; Gudgeon-Fishing; Moor-Hen Shooting; Swan's Nest; Swan-Hopping; Eel-Bucks; Flight-Shooting; Boat-Building; etc. The many illustrations help bring to life a world very much in touch with the cycles of nature. Interior - A previous owner's bookplate on the front pastedown has the name scratched out causing some paper loss to the bookplate and the marbled endpaper, scattered light foxing marks a the front of the book up to approx. page 16 and also some larger foxing marks at the rear of the book on the index pages - a very few light foxing marks throughout the rest of pages, a soft corner crease and light wrinkling on one preliminary page, a large crease on the free rear endpaper, a small crease at the top corner of page 207 to the end of the book. Exterior - edge wear to the boards with some surface leather loss - areas have been re-dyed red at some time, areas of staining on the boards - mainly the front board, light lean to the spine, darkening of the spine colour, a few very light indentations on the boards.. First Edition. Full-Leather. Good+.