Guidebooks of a Past Era
“What dull men are those that tarry at home,When abroad they might wantonly rome, (sic)And gain such experience, and spy tooSuch Countries, and Wonders as I do. – Cowley”
Excerpt from Highways and Byways in Northamptonshire and Rutland, by H. A. Evans (1918)
We sell a number of different types of old guidebooks in our shop and one of my favourites is the ‘Highways and Byways’ series, each with numerous illustrations, some by noted artists. The ‘Highways and Byways’ series includes 36 pocket-sized regional guides which were hugely popular in their day. They had very distinct branding (before the word branding existed), which made them instantly noticeable, with their dark green covers (blue for the later editions) and gilt writing on the front and spine.