THE FENLAND PAST AND PRESENT

by Samuel H MILLER & Sydney B. J. SKERTCHLY

Leach & Sons Wisbech & Longmans Green & Co, London

First Edition First Printing

1878

A VERY RARE & HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE copy of Miller & Skertchly's "The Fenland". One of the Cornestone Fenland titles.

Obviously covering the counties of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

The Fens have been referred to as the "Holy Land of the English" because of the churches and cathedrals of Ely, Ramsey, Crowland, Thorney and Peterborough Other significant settlements in the Fens include Cambridge, Boston, Spalding, Wisbech and King's Lynn.

Amazingly detailed book

"Many historical book have been written on different localities in the Fens - some of them haveing special reference to the great drainage-works carried out during the two past centuries, others touching the growth and decay of the religious houses, while fe have recorded the annals of towns....Romance too, has found a fertile source of themes in Fen Legends, adventures and exploits. But as no treatise bearing the complexion of modern science and conveying the results of recent investigations, in relation to the whole Fenland, has hitherto appeared, this volume is put forth to attempt to supply that want in the literature of our country.......Much of the information embodied in this book is entirely new and is the outgrowth of many years research made by the authors and their friends" (from the preface)

Contents very broadly by title of chapter include 1) geographical sketch of the Fenland; 2) the pre historic inhabitants of britian; 3) Historical sketch; 4) standard englaish the language of the Fenland; 5) the dissolution of the Monasteries; 6) drainage of the Fens; 7) Rivers of the Fenland; 8) the Wash; 9) the Wash; 10) the climate of the Fenland; 11) botany of the Fenland; 12) the pre historic Fauna of the Fenland; 13) the modern fauna of the Fenland; 14) the pre histofic fauna of the Fenland; 15) the modern fauna of the Fenland; 16) the sanitary condition of the Fens; 17) Antiquarian relics; 18) geology of the Fens; Appendices - Tattershall Castle; Genealogy of the Kymes; Fenland Tumuli; the Anacharis; list of Mullusca of Norfolk; Elevation of Important points; list of Lepidoptera; Table of Barometric readings; synoptical table of strata.

27 full page illustrations as issued. 1 folding map and may in text illustrations.

Further Details

Hardback : 10"x 7". 649pp.

NO CHIPPING & NO SPLITTING to VERY CLEAN boards with BRIGHT gilt. Tiniest nick to top left corner head of spine. Light vertical crease to spine approx 0.75" from right side. New replacement endpapers & strengthening to textblock internally - there are old staple rust marks to gutter hinges of leaves as if the book has been resewn or repaired at some time using staples to hold the gatherings together - the textblock is holding and firm. The endpapers are quite stiff card. The halftitle has a piece of paper strenghtening the gutter hinge approx 3" into the margin of the page. There is also an old professional repair to the gutter hinge on p.ix and p. xiv of the preliminaries. Rest of text appears good with FIRM & FAST textblock throughout. No apparent inscriptions. Page 306 has some tears and grazing to the gutter margin.  The Folding map is present with a 1.5" tear to connecting panel and old repaired 1.5" tear. Occcasional handling mark & short closed tear. NO LOOSE & NO MISSING leaves. All plates hand collated and present.

A Very Rare book indeed on the Fenland. Despite some repairs to the textblock copies of this book when it surfaces have historically tended to start at several hundred pounds upwards - this is a chance to pick up an inexpensive reading copy. Lovely boards with very bright gilt and looks lovely on the shelf.

Please note this book is very heavy indeed hence postage costs.

THIS IS PART OF A NUMBER OF NATURAL HISTORY & EAST ANGLIAN RELATED BOOKS WE SHALL BE LISTING FROM A SMALL ESTATE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS - PLEASE VISIT "VIEW SELLERS OTHER TITLES"

This Item is offered with a LOW STARTING PRICE & NO RESERVE