Harper's The Great North Road (2 Vols) Old Mail Road to Scotland 1901

The Great North Road; The Old Mail Road to Scotland

By Charles G. Harper

Published by Chapman & Hall, London, 1901. First Edition. Complete in Two Volumes. Hardback, cloth bindings, tall 8vo, 301 + 310 pages. Illustrated by the author and from old-time prints and pictures.

CONDITION
A good complete set of the first edition. The cloth bindings are in good condition as can be seen in the images provided. Endpapers good. All contents present and pages good throughout. No writing or names. Overall very good.

The Great North Road is a historical account written in the early 20th century. This work explores the significance, history, and evolution of the Great North Road, which served as a vital travel route between London and Edinburgh, focusing particularly on its role during the coaching era and its transformation with the advent of motor travel. The opening of the book provides a rich historical context for the Great North Road, highlighting its importance as a thoroughfare and the changes it underwent from a solitary highway to a bustling route frequented by motorists. Harper discusses the original state of travel, emphasizing the dangers and discomforts faced by travelers in earlier centuries. He introduces notable milestones, such as the establishment of mail-coach services and the gradual transition to modern transportation, while also reflecting on the nostalgia surrounding traditional inns and coaching houses that once thrived along the route. This sets the stage for deeper explorations into the evolution of road travel throughout the book.

(Scotland. Second top Shelf)