An Encyclopaedia of London
KENT, William
[Revised Edition]. '[Festival of Britain' edition].
BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY OF THE 'FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN' EDITION
Published: Dent, [1951]
Stock code: 30815
Price: £26.00
8vo., Best Edition, with a frontispiece and 15 plates, some moderate offsetting from fold-ins to free endpapers; red cloth, gilt back, a very good, bright, clean copy in dustwrapper, the latter lightly frayed and creased at edges.
First published in 1937, 'Kent' is the most detailed single-volume encyclopaedia of London and an invaluable period guide to places, institutions and infrastructure. This substantially revised edition was produced to coincide with the Festival of Britain, albeit that the major South Bank site (frontispiece) was still under construction. It also includes coverage of wartime depredations. Later editions suffered from the usual economies of scale and production. A very nice copy and uncommon in this condition.