The Authentic Map Directory of South Lancashire, (edited by) James Bain — 1st Ed

Publication: London, Geographia Ltd., c. 1934.

Formatting: Folio, pp. [v], 208, [unpaginated indices].

Condition Report: Fair. Bound in its original stamped green cloth, which exhibits general handling wear, surface scuffing, and rubbing to the extremities typical of a heavily utilised commercial reference work. The gilt lettering on the upper board and spine remains present, though slightly dulled by handling. Internally, the binding shows weakness, with early splitting developing at the gutters, rendering the text block slightly shaken. The leaves are heavily affected by marks and pooling characteristic of liquid dampstaining, predominantly visible along the margins of the title page, the preliminary advertisement leaves, and continuing intermittently throughout the text block. Notable foxing and spotting are also present along the outer page edges. Despite these physical condition flaws and external environmental wear, the structural integrity of the maps themselves remains largely complete and entirely legible for reference.

Catalogue Note: First edition of the directory provides an exhaustively detailed topographical record of the region prior to mid-century industrial decline and post-war redevelopment. It features a comprehensive, large-scale coloured street plan spanning 184 individual sections, alongside various local business advertisements that serve as an additional historical resource.

The provenance is limited to a contemporary corporate sticker from the "Rankin Eng. Co." affixed to the front pastedown, reflecting the book's practical past in a local industrial or municipal office.

Such complete, bound copies of these large-scale regional map directories are becoming increasingly uncommon on the open market. Due to their practical utility, many surviving volumes have historically been disbound by dealers to retail the vibrant, individual map plates separately, making intact reference copies particularly desirable for local historians and collectors.

An unparalleled snapshot of pre-war industrial England, The Authentic Map Directory of South Lancashire offers a meticulous, street-level view of a region at the height of its commercial power. Originally produced for the desks of local businesses and municipal planners, this exhaustive directory maps everything from parliamentary divisions to tramways and individual street numbers across 184 detailed, full-colour sections. Beyond its cartographic precision, the inclusion of contemporary business advertisements provides a fascinating, multifaceted window into the daily civic and economic life of 1930s Lancashire.