CAMBRIDGE; By M. A. R. Tuker / Painted by William Matthison

London: Adam and Charles Black, 1907. First Edition. Decorated & gilt-stamped cloth. Very Good. William Matthison. Quarto (8 7/8" x 6 3/4" x 1 3/4"), original publisher's decorative green cloth with gold lettering on spine & front cover with repeating lamps of knowledge, illustrated by William Matthison with 77 full-color glossy plates (with captioned tissue guards) executed as watercolour (or oil) paintings of Cambridge sites; Index of Names & General Index; top page edges gilded [t.e.g.]; xix, [xx] + 395, [396] pages + folding map. Weight: > 2 lbs. 11.6 oz. Ex Libris Springfield Town Library. Better than usual ExLib: Has moderate-sized library plate on front pastedown & larger "Withdrawn" paper on rear pastedown; indications on lower label of spine that numbering has been imperfectly removed leaving slight white residue. Remarkably free of other stamps within. <br /> <br /> Cloth is worn; spine cap is abraided; edgewear. Rear hinge is split but sewing is holding well. Occasional light foxing to paper but not to the glossy plate images. Overall, though, this is a quite serviceable and beautiful volume.<br /> <br /> William Matthison (1853-1926)--educated at Birmingham Central School of Art--was a successful Victorian watercolourist, oil painter, and illustrator.<br /> <br /> SCARCE title. Tight, clean volume with immaculate color plates executed by a master painter! Moderate uniform age-toning. Paper is only slightly brittle and doesn't lend itself to chipping! Wonderful images and associations.