London Labour and London Poor/ the Conditions and Earnings of those that Will work, cannot Work and will not Work by Henry Mayhew - 1862,1864

London: Griffin, Griffin Bohn and Co, 1862,1864. Vols1-3:2nd edition.Vol4: 1st edition. Original purple pictorial pebble grain cloth, gilt lettering, vignette and ornamentations on spine and vignette of boy at centre of blind stamped cover The 4th volume is very similar in style, stamped and ornamental gilt, but in brown cloth . Backstrip of Vol. 1 faded, minimal wear to edges, some foxing to first and last few leaves of 4th volume, but overall a very good set. . Four volumes Vols1-3( 135 x 215mm), pp (iv),543,(i), (ii)index 37plates; (vi), 576, 35 plates [inc.portrait frontispiece of Mayhew]; (iv), 452, 6 plates as called for, additional plate [street porter with knot: part 72]; Volume 4(145 x230mm), xi, 504. From the library of Sir William Paton with his neat pencilled bibiographical note. Mayhew's London Poor, originally published in 1851, is an exhaustive and detailed journalistic study of London's street people and culture. Widely recognised as the first book of its kind. Beautifully illustrated with numerous full page wood cuts throughout. This present item comprises all four volumes; the first 3 are second editions, and the later published 4th volume isa first edition Sets of all 4 volumes are rare.