THE HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF THE HUNDRED OF WILLEY in the County of Bedford

The St. John of Bletsoe copy - the printed dedicatee. Inscribed by the author.

Substantial quarto (31cm x 27cm x 6.5cm), xxi+ pp570 (including index), coloured map as frontispiece, numerous full page engravings, some chromolithographs, plans, numerous double page pedigrees (the one for the St John family of Bletsoe being separated and refolded). 

Handsome, green half-morocco binding over marbled boards, elaborate gilt decoration to spine. Marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, remainder untrimmed. Bookplate to front pastedown: 'St. Andrew, Lord St. John of Bletsoe, 1878'

The title page is inscribed: 'Presented to Lord and Lady St. John with the author's compliments.' The printed dedication leaf is also'To the Right Honorable St Andrew, 15th Baron St. John of Bletsoe &c..', making the book a truly magnificent association copy.

The most substantial of all the nineteenth century works on Bedfordshire history, Harvey's epic undertaking was published in parts between 1872 and 1878. Only 100 copies were printed, with fewer than half being held back for binding as a single volume once the final part had been printed. The villages described in the Willey hundred are Biddenham, Bletsoe, Bromham, Carlton, Chellington, Farndish, Felmersham, Harrold, Odell, Pavenham, Sharnbrook, Souldrop, Stagsden, Stevington, Thurleigh, Turvey and Wymington.

A touch of light foxing here and there but a very good copy indeed.