An Old Coachman's Chatter With Some Practical Remarks on Driving

Apparently a facsmilie reprint of a book first published in London by Richard Bentley and Son in 1891, "An Old Coachman's Chatter With some Practical Remarks on Driving," provides a weatlh of information on the days when coaches provided one of the few forms of public land transport, other than riding a horse or relying on an individual's leg power. In his introduction the author notes that his is not a history of coaching's "palmy days" a but he had "brought it down to a period of twenty years later when coaches, though comparartively few, were still running in considerable numbers in out-of-the-way districts, upon the old lines, but by those who had learned their business in those palmy days." On his "driving" tips he writes that these were "the result of having carefully watched old and experienced hands, together with such instructions as they gave me, followed up by long and continuous practice." ( A line above his name on the title page states "By a Semi-Professional.") Edward Corbett's coaching reminiscences and experiences are conveyed in 23 chapters covering topics such as carrying the Royal Mails, accidents, horses, the roads, with two chapters on coachmen ( Where Did They Come From? and Where Did They Go?), characters encountered and two on coach driving with other aspects of the coaching businesss and some client reactions also covered . A host of interesting recollections on a long-gone mode of transport. Reprint of 1974, from EP Publications of a book first published in 1891. 303 pages including 19 page appendix, illustrated with "eight full page illustrations on Stone" by John Sturgess, also one in-text woodcut and seven diagrams. Red hard covers with gilt spine titles are excellent, as is the text block. No inscriptions. (The eight full page b/w stone engravings by Sturgess include the frontis and each is a highly detailed depiction of "coaching days.".…