‘The Story of the Life of George Stephenson’, by Samuel Smiles

Including a Memoir of his Son, Robert Stephenson. By Samuel Smiles. A new edition, thoroughly revised, published by John Murray, Albemarle Street, London, 1864. First published in 1857. George Stephenson (1781 - 1848), renowned as the ‘Father of Railways’, was from very humble beginnings, but becoming self- taught and with a thirst for self-improvement, became a civil and mechanical engineer who built the first public inter-city railway line to use steam locomotives in the world. His only son, Robert (1803 - 1859) built on the achievements of his father and, from his father’s support and their mutual endeavours, became possibly one of the greatest engineers of the 19th century.

12mo - 5” x 7”. 388pp. 70 engraved illustrations, with frontispiece of George Stephenson. Half bound in tan calf with scarlet embossed boards, marbled endpapers and page edges. Five raised bands and gilt tooled decoration and title to spine. Inscribed to front free endpaper, Henry Turner, March 1867.

Condition: Very good with tight spine and very clean, unmarked pages. Foxing to endpapers only. Rubbing to corners of boards and minor chipping to each and top edge of spine. Silk ribbon intact. Clean, strong and sound copy.

English 1864