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Stated second edition on titlepage. Small format handbook measuring 5 x 3.25 ins with faded purple cloth binding and a gilt and green title sticker laid down to the upper board. Cloth is faded with bumped corner while the sticker itself is wonderfully bright and complete, almost certainly because the handbook has been kept in the brown buff envelope in which is still resides since being posted in 1946. With it comes a single page handwritten letter from Bruce Lyttleton Richmond (1871-1964), editor of the Times Literary Review, to his nephew Martin on letterhead paper of 3 The University, Glasgow, in which he states, "Early Bradshaws are worth something. It would be worth enquiring of (a) Norman Kerr, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Lancs, (b) Cotterell & Co, 110 Dale End, Birmingham 4, (c) Grafton & Co, 7 Great Ruseell Street, London, all splendid railway booksellers, whether they'd like one". 16 maps in total, mostly double-page. Comes with original envelope with Penny Red 1d stamp, postmarked Salisbury. On 19 October 1839, soon after the introduction of railways, George Bradshaw's Manchester company published the world's first compilation of railway timetables entitled "Bradshaw's Railway Time Tables and Assistant to Railway Travelling" at a cost of sixpence. In 1840 the title was changed to "Bradshaw's Railway Companion", and the price raised to one shilling. A new volume was issued at occasional intervals and from time to time a supplement kept this up to date. The original Bradshaw publications were published before the limited introduction of standardised Railway time in November 1840, and its subsequent development into standard time. The accompanying map of all lines in operation (and some "in progress") in England and Wales, is cited as being the world's first national railway map. Seller Inventory # 19062
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