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Bradshaw's Handbook

George Bradshaw

Collector’s item, landmark in the history of the tour guide, snapshot of Britain in the 1860s – Bradshaw’s Handbook deserves a place on the bookshelf of any traveller, railway enthusiast, historian or anglophile. This is a facsimile of the actual book – often referred to as ‘Bradshaw’s Guide’ – that inspired the ‘Great British Railway Journeys’ television series, possibly the only surviving example of the 1863 edition.

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London Olympics: 1908 and 1948

Janie Hampton

The first two London Olympics offer food for thought in the run-up to London 2012, with its multi-billion pound budget during a global economic recession, new sporting arenas, Olympic villages, and high-speed rail links. When Vesuvius erupted in 1906, Italy had to pull out of hosting the Games. London stepped in and delivered new stadia without any government assistance in just two years. In 1948, still recovering from the ravages of war, London hosted the Olympics again. The entire budget for the 1948 Games was £760,000, and they turned a profit of £29,000. This history of the London Olympics, which concludes with a look ahead to 2012, is a timely and fascinating chronicle of the Games of another age.

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The London Underground

Andrew Emmerson

The London Underground is at the heart of the city, used by millions of commuters and shoppers every year, its tentacles extending into the suburbs that it has helped to create. Its turbulent life has been determined by the trials and tribulations endured by the people it carries: it provided a network of life-saving shelter in the Blitz, but has also been the scene of numerous tragedies. The London Underground will transport you vividly back to the past: well over half the illustrations are in colour, and most of the photographs have not been published since they were taken.

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Old House Maps

We have a charming selection of beautifully illustrated and informative maps from our sister company, Old House Books & Maps. To see the full collection, please click on the link below.

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