Victoria and its Metropolis: Past and Present (First Edition)

A monumental and richly illustrated Victorian-era survey of colonial Victoria at the peak of its prosperity: the state’s history, science, and society compiled by a roll-call of its most distinguished contemporary intellectual figures, bound here in an elaborate presentation binding.

Published at the height of the “Marvellous Melbourne” boom years, in the same year as Melbourne’s Centennial International Exhibition, this work stands as a comprehensive contemporary self-portrait of a colony at the peak of its Victorian-era confidence and prosperity, and remains, more than a century on, a substantial and frequently consulted resource for researchers of Victorian local, family, and institutional history. The work’s reputation among specialist Australiana dealers includes a well-,,known caveat: copies are consistently noted as prone to significant binding wear and defects, this being, in the words of one dealer, “a weighty set often found with serious defects to the binding”. A reputation this copy’s own noted condition issues, while genuine, are entirely consistent with rather than unusual for the title.

First edition. 2 vols., thick quarto. Full red morocco, elaborately lettered and decorated in gilt to cover and spine. Publisher’s device in gilt to rear covers. Gilt inner dentelles. All edges gilt. Vol. I: xi, [i], 594pp.; Vol. II: xii, 822, [i]pp. Nearly 500 wood-engraved illustrations throughout, together with a folding colour map of Victoria. Covers worn and marked, though still present well with gilt bright. Hinges a bit cracked internally, though binding remains strong. Contents generally bright and clear throughout, with the occasional patch of foxing. Front-and-rear matter contains the majority of the foxing present in both volumes. Tape repair made to gutter of preliminary pages in volume one. Brown impression left on page opposite tipped-in errata slip in volume two. Overall, a good set.

Ferguson 16439.

Please note: This is a two-volume set and is heavy. Additional postage costs may apply. If so, we will contact you after purchase.

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Catalogue Number: HH000818