Bourne's Great Western Railway: A Reproduction of the History and Description of the Great Western Railway – Large Folio Illustrated Facsimile

Bourne's Great Western Railway: A Reproduction of the History and Description of the Great Western Railway – Large Folio Illustrated Facsimile Author: John C. Bourne Publisher: David & Charles Reprints, Newton Abbot, Devon Publication Date: 1970 (some bibliographical records give 1969) Edition: First Facsimile Edition – Reprint of the 1846 Original Binding: Hardcover, Large Folio Condition: Very Good (provisional) Dust Jacket: Good ISBN: 0715346881 Language: English Format: Large Folio, approximately 54 × 39 cm Book Description A magnificent large-format facsimile reproduction of John C. Bourne's celebrated The History and Description of the Great Western Railway, originally published in London by David Bogue in 1846. Published by David & Charles Reprints around 1970, this impressive volume faithfully reproduces one of the most important illustrated records of Britain's early railway age. John Cooke Bourne (1814–1896) was among the foremost nineteenth-century artists specialising in railway engineering and industrial landscapes. His extraordinary lithographs recorded the construction and early operation of the Great Western Railway, capturing the bridges, tunnels, viaducts, stations and engineering achievements of the pioneering railway era. The original work provides a remarkable visual record of the railway connecting London with Bristol, including Brunel's pioneering engineering works and the dramatic transformation of the British landscape during the Industrial Revolution. The illustrations are particularly celebrated for their architectural precision, artistic composition and historical significance. They depict locomotives emerging from tunnels, vast railway viaducts, major stations and the impressive civil engineering works that made the Great Western Railway one of the outstanding achievements of nineteenth-century Britain. This substantial facsimile reproduces the original engraved and lithographed illustrations on a generous scale, allowing their exceptional detail to be fully appreciated. The volume retains its original pictorial dust jacket, featuring Bourne's atmospheric illustration of a steam locomotive emerging from a tunnel. A highly desirable publication for collectors of British railway history, industrial archaeology, nineteenth-century engineering, Brunel memorabilia and historical illustrated works. Condition Description Book: Very Good Dust Jacket: Good. An impressive large-format hardcover volume retaining its original illustrated dust jacket, currently housed in a transparent protective covering. The dust jacket displays age-related discolouration, particularly around the edges, together with creasing, rubbing and small tears or wear at the corners and extremities. Several old bookseller's labels remain attached to the front cover, including a previous auction label. Internally, the illustrated title page and facsimile title page appear clean and well preserved, with the illustrations retaining excellent clarity and detail. The pages shown are bright, with only minor age-related wear. The visible illustrations are beautifully reproduced, displaying the fine architectural and engineering detail characteristic of Bourne's original lithographs. A handsome and substantial volume, retaining considerable visual appeal despite wear to its original dust jacket. Please refer to the accompanying photographs, which show the actual condition of the book.…