FRASER, James. A Hand Book for Travellers in Ireland, Descriptive of its Scenery, Towns, Seats, Antiquities, etc.,

With all the Railways now Open, and Various Statistical Tables. Also, an Outline of its Mineral Structure, a Brief View of its Botany, and Information for Anglers. Dublin: James McGlashan, 21 D’Olier Street, 1849. Thick octavo. pp. xiv, 734. Original publisher’s green cloth, upper cover and spine blocked in blind and gilt, with gilt vignette of a steam locomotive on upper cover. Ex-library copy with Peel Park Library and Salford Museum & Library labels and stamps. Upper spine expertly rebacked preserving much of the original cloth. Some rubbing and wear to boards, occasional spotting and browning. A sound and complete copy.

An important mid-nineteenth-century guide to Ireland, published at a transformative moment in the country’s history. Appearing during the aftermath of the Great Famine and amidst the rapid expansion of the Irish railway network, Fraser’s handbook sought to provide travellers with a comprehensive survey of the island’s scenery, antiquities, landed estates, market towns, fisheries, geology and transport infrastructure. The inclusion of detailed information on the newly opened railway lines reflects the changing nature of travel in Ireland and marks the transition from the coaching era to the age of steam.

Far more than a conventional guidebook, Fraser’s work serves today as a valuable historical record of pre-modern Ireland, preserving descriptions of country houses, castles, monastic ruins, landscapes and towns, many of which have since altered dramatically or disappeared altogether. Copies in the original publisher’s cloth are increasingly uncommon, particularly in complete form, and remain an important source for historians, genealogists, collectors of Irish topography and students of nineteenth-century travel literature.

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