The Post Office London Directory with County Suburbs for 1916
Three volumes, an important resource for historians and genealogists
Author
Publisher
Printing Details
Hardbacks, professionally rebound into three volumes in plain burgundy binder's cloth, with remnants of title handwritten labels to spine. Each 26 × 23.5cm, xxxiii, 2518pp + 106pp ads, 855pp. Pages with printed sections to the fore-edge for ease of access. NOTE: there is something skewiff about the binding at the rear of the first volume, the last few pages are upside down and slightly out of order but it does make sense and no text is missing.
An immense resource for historians and genealogists. The first two volumes cover "old" London, before the boroughs were expanded in the 1960s and the creation of Greater London. The second volume covers the county suburbs, which would include places such as Battersea, Lewisham, Camberwell, Fulham, Hampstead, Hackney etc.
The first major section (after the official lists and offices) is the London street index (this list notable residents) which runs from Abbey Court in NW8 through to Zetland Street in Poplar, then follows the Commercial Directory from A1 Cinema Supply Co of Greek Street, Sogo, through to Zyto Sigmund, jeweller, of Great Sutton Street, EC. Then into the second volume which the Trades Directory, which lists all London trades from absorbent cotton wool manufacturers through to Zincographic Printers. Finally there are the directories for court, law, parliamentary, municipal, clerical, banking, conveyance, assurance and so on. The third volume repeats the format for the county suburbs.
These were such large volumes that precious few survive. They were printed on thin, delicate paper and the weight of the contents put a great deal of stress on the inner binding. A map would have been issued separately and is not present here.
Condition
These copies are for the most part in strong readable condition. The main title page of volume 1 is creased and rather grubby, and as mentioned the last few pages are bound upside down but no text is missing. There is some damage to the pages: In volume 2, pp2135–2142 has a concertina rip to the top few inches of text in the middle of the pages. This make reading difficult but it's not impossible. Page 68 in volume 3 (County Suburbs) is torn from the fore-edge through the text but it can be placed together to get the information. The vast majority of pages are in good readable condition. Some creasing and damage to the last few adverts at the end of volume 2. However, this remains a rare record of London's residents, trades, and officials in the middle of the Great War.
This is a heavy set at nearly 8kg.
Further images are available on request.
If you would like any further information or have any queries, please feel free to email at walterbudge@btinternet.com or geoff@coxandbudge.co.uk
Price
£170.00
