First Edition: 1918 Rare Muirhead Guide to England and its Environs, The Blue Guides, maps, historical gift for traveller, near perfect retailer

A gorgeous first edition hardcover "London and its Environs" travel book published by Scottish brothers James and Findlay Muirhead in 1918. It offers an exquisite look into the famous city as it was more than 100 years ago!

These "Blue Guides" -- as they came to be known -- set the standard for travel guides.

It all began with this first volume!!

Inside its pages, the annually updated volumes offered readers the most relevant advice on what to see, what to skip, and what hidden discoveries to search out.

There are dozens of maps. (All fold out and I did not detect and rips or tears on any pages.) Some of the chapters feature fold out pages to guide withI. a museum, while the appendix highlights the transportation routes for cabs, omnibuses, tramways and underground railway.

Your guide to the past!! Interestingly, the year 1918 was also the year of Spanish Flu. And the year (some) women got the vote.

The exterior of this gorgeous historical reference book is bound in blue cloth with gilt lettering to front and spine. Embossed pattern on the front. The text on the front is perfect, but there is some loss of gilt to on the spine. The binding and spine are still strong. None of the edges are bumped. Pages are age tanned. Unspoiled by pencilled/pen annotations.

According to my research, the Muirheads had for many years been the English-language editors of the German Baedeker retailer series; when they also acquired the rights to John Murray's famous travel “handbooks” they established the Blue Guides as heir to the great 19th century guide book tradition.

Interesting side note: A&C Black (Publishers) Limited, acquired The Blue Guides, and were then acquired by Bloomsbury Plc, publishers of the Harry Potter books.

First Edition: Original Rare 1918 Muirhead Guide to England and its Environs, The Blue Guides, extensive maps museums trains zoo historical