Coaching Days and Coaching Ways (Hugh Thomson, Illustrator)

First Edition, First Printing. The very rare, first 1888 edition. Profusely with frontispiece and 214 wonderful illustrations throughout by Hugh Thomson and Herbert Railton, many full page. A description of and anecdotes regarding the major coach routes across England and Ireland. Chapters include 'The Bath Road', 'The Exeter Road', 'The Portsmouth Road', 'The Brighton Road', 'The Dover Road', 'The York Road', and 'The Holyhead Road.' The text looks at the history of the coachways, and their conditions from as early as the 1600s. Very good plus in publishers original half-bound burgundy leather burgundy cloth; leather corners, with leather outlined in gilt. Raised bands on spine with gilt text and designs. top edge gilt. Some edgewear and light scuffing; edges bumped and a bit worn. Yellow boards with wood grain pattern. Content near fine, with text and illustrations bright, lean and unmarred, with only occasional light foxing. Prior owners signature on front free endpaper. Folio, 367 pp. A wonderful copy of this timeless classic illustrated by the inestimable Hugh Thomson.