The chronicles of early Melbourne, 1835 to 1852. Historical, anecdotal and personal, by “Garryowen”

Centennial edition with portraits and illustrations. Melbourne : Fergusson and Mitchell, 1888. First edition. Two volumes, quarto, gilt-decorated roan (refurbished and recoloured, expertly rebacked with new spines lettered in gilt, a pencilled note on the endpaper of the second volume reads ‘Repaired H. Green £6.6.0’), all edges gilt, endpapers replaced, bookplates of Bernard Gore Brett to pastedowns, pp. xiv; 1000, numerous lithographed illustrations, the occasional spot of foxing, overall a very good set, uncommon in this condition, in a solid and study binding.

Accompanied by a copy of : The Chronicles of early melbourne. Biographical notes by Michael Cannon. Descriptive index compiled by Neil Swift. Melbourne : Heritage Publications, [1976]. Quarto, gilt-lettered refine in dustjacket, pp. 120, adhesion marks to endpapers and light foxing. The third volume (index) from the 1976 facsimile edition, a useful companion.

“The two volumes of the book are structured as 68 chapters covering subjects such as: The beginnings of Melbourne, the official development of the municipality and it’s government, religious denominations, institutions, companies and infrastructure. It also includes anecdotes from and about the gold era, separation from New South Wales, early executions, bushrangers, Black Thursday and many other historical places, events and people of early Melbourne. Illustrations of people and places are scattered throughout both volumes.” – Trove

Ferguson, 9609.