The Old Road, by H. Belloc, with Illustrations by William Hyde, Constable 1904, in custom Vellum binding

Hilaire Belloc’s The Old Road (1904) is his celebrated account of the ancient Pilgrims’ Way from Winchester to Canterbury, tracing both the physical route and its historical and cultural associations. Blending topography, history, and personal reflection, Belloc evokes the landscape of southern England while meditating on continuity and change along this age-old path. The volume is enriched by illustrations and plates after William Hyde, whose work complements Belloc’s prose with atmospheric views of the countryside.

The Old Road, by H. Belloc, with Illustrations by William Hyde.

Published by Archibald Constable and Company Limited, London, 1904. Large-format first edition, in a very attractive custom binding.

A very good hardback with green cloth covers and vellum spine and corners. The spine with gilt decoration and olive morocco title label. Covers with some light markings. All soundly bound.

Text pages with light scattered foxing throughout, but clear and legible. The plates are bright and clean. the fold-out maps have some light age toning. Text block with gilt at top and rough cut elsewhere. The rough cut edges with some browning to extremities.

Text in English.

x + 171pp + (1) + 11 Plates + 6 fold-out ordnance maps at the rear (all as called for) - plus illustrations in the text.

Dimensions: Approximately 287mm high x 203mm wide x 48mm deep.

Weight: Approximately 1540g.