Liverpool a Few Years Since, James Aspinall — 1st Edition

£60.00

Liverpool a Few Years Since, James Aspinall — 1st Edition

Name: Liverpool a Few Years Since, James Aspinall — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4465
Price: 60.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Write Review

In stock

£60.00

Shipping is calculated at checkout.

Publication: London, Whittaker and Co., and Liverpool, Deighton and Laughton, 1852

Formatting: 8vo, pp. vii, 159.

Condition Report: Good. The book is bound in its original publisher's blue cloth, displaying wear commensurate with its age and utilitarian nature. The boards remain securely attached but exhibit noticeable rubbing, with the blind-stamped borders and the upper board's central gilt cartouche retaining much of their original definition (the lower board mirrors the blind tooling but un-gilded). The spine has significantly darkened and oxidised over time, showing substantial wear that includes chipping, fraying, and minor loss at both the head and tail caps, alongside some superficial cracking to the joints. The corners are heavily bumped, leaving the underlying boards exposed, and the text block edges are darkened with dust. Internally, the volume remains robust; the hinges hold well, and the binding is tight. The leaves show typical mild age-toning and very light, scattered browning, but remain predominantly bright, clean, and entirely legible.

Catalogue Note: This scarce First Edition marks the initial appearance in book form of these cherished local sketches. The text was originally serialised anonymously in the Liverpool Albion newspaper under the pseudonym "An Old Stager," before overwhelming public demand prompted this collected edition, printed locally at the Albion-Office. The author was later identified as the Reverend James Aspinall (1795–1861), a prominent local Church of England clergyman and member of a highly influential Liverpool family.

The volume is presented in its original publisher's blue cloth binding. While subsequent editions were published in 1869 and 1885 to satisfy ongoing local historical interest, this 1852 first printing remains notably uncommon on the open market, representing a foundational piece of nineteenth-century Merseyside topography.

Liverpool a Few Years Since provides a vivid, nostalgic window into the social fabric, notable figures, and rapid transformations of Liverpool during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Written by the Reverend James Aspinall under the guise of "An Old Stager," the work was born from a highly popular series of newspaper columns that captured the imagination of the city's residents. From tales of eccentric local characters and bustling commerce to the shifting political landscapes of a rapidly expanding port city, Aspinall’s warm, witty, and keenly observed anecdotes capture the essence of Georgian and Victorian Liverpool. This volume stands as a vital and deeply personal historical record of a community in the midst of profound change.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: James Aspinall

Book Publisher: Whittaker and Co. / Deighton and Laughton

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: History

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 159

Book Publication Year: 1852

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London & Liverpool, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.