THE BEDFORD BEE

A rare, complete run of 'The Bedford Bee' newspaper.

Bound into a single volume, 27.5cm x 23cm x 3.5cm, pp 468, with numerous adverts and full and double page engravings.

Modern half morocco binding over marbled boards with gilt rules and raised bands to the spine, suggestive of the markings of a bee.

A rare, complete bound run of The Bedford Bee newspaper which ran from April to December 1879. A little like a local 'Punch' or even 'Private Eye', The Bee was notable for its regular caricatures of well known townsmen. It was largely the work of Gordon Flaws who edited it under the name of 'Ion Commoner'.

This is the only bound copy we have come across in 33 years (the original binding, having served its purpose, was renewed recently) and this explains the unusually good condition of the contents, as the paper is notoriously fragile and - when found - loose issues are often very tatty.

 Varying degrees of tanning to pages depending on issue, but little to no foxing throughout. VG.