The Lives of George and Robert Stephenson, Samuel Smiles — 1st Folio Society Edition

£20.99

The Lives of George and Robert Stephenson, Samuel Smiles — 1st Folio Society Edition

Name: The Lives of George and Robert Stephenson, Samuel Smiles — 1st Folio Society Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4412
Price: 20.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, The Folio Society, 1975

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 304.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The volume remains tightly bound, square, and feels completely unread. The green cloth boards are exceptionally sharp and clean, maintaining bright, unoxidised gilt tooling to the spine and a pristine, unrubbed pictorial inlay to the front cover. Internally, the text block is immaculate, the pages are crisp, bright, and entirely free from foxing, handling marks, or spotting, while the yellow top-edge stain retains a uniform, unfaded vibrancy. The accompanying textured cream slipcase is also well-preserved and structurally sound, showing only the faintest hint of incidental shelf-wear to the extreme corners.

Catalogue Note: This handsome edition draws its text from Samuel Smiles' final revision of 1874. It is generously illustrated, pairing the original, highly detailed monochrome woodcuts from the 1862 edition with beautiful double-page colour lithographs that capture the atmosphere of the early railway era. A new introduction by Eric de Maré provides modern historical context to the work.

The binding itself is a lovely example of meticulous mid-century production standards, featuring dark cloth boards adorned with an inset pictorial plate of an early steam locomotive. While it remains a relatively accessible volume on the open market, finding copies in such remarkably crisp, unhandled condition is increasingly uncommon.

Samuel Smiles' landmark biography chronicles the incredible lives, struggles, and mechanical triumphs of George and Robert Stephenson, the visionary father-and-son engineering duo who effectively birthed the modern railway age. From the gritty, soot-stained coal fields of Newcastle to the triumph of the legendary early locomotives and the expansive spread of the rail network across Britain, this engaging narrative captures the ingenuity, perseverance, and indomitable spirit that powered the Industrial Revolution.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Samuel Smiles

Book Publisher: The Folio Society

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Autobiography, Biography & Memoirs

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 304

Book Publication Year: 1975

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Bungay, Suffolk, 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.

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