The Local

London: Cassell, 1939.

First Edition. Original illustrated boards with cover design by Edward Ardizzone who also supplied the 15 lithographic plates, including one double-page. 51 pages. Titles printed in red of the front and spine, which is unchipped. Without inscriptions etc. Endpapers toned and somewhat foxed. Plates wonderfully clean and bright. An excellent copy. Copies of the first edition are fairly scarce as the stock of unsold copies were destroyed when Cassell's warehouse was bombed out during the Blitz. A book about the pubs of London covering all the major aspects of the boozer that made it such a stalwart of the social scene, with chapters of 'The Regulars', 'The Saloon Bar'. 'The Lounge Bar', 'The Mews Pub', 'Eating in Pubs'.