The history of the town of Malmesbury and of its ancient Abbey, the remains of which magnificent edifice are still used as a parish church; together with memoirs of eminent natives and other distinguished characters who were connected with the Abbey [...

Bucklersbury, London: T Conder, 1805 Book. Fair. Disbound. 249, [1] pages + 4 plates - lacks the folding table of charities. Full leather binding - but very badly worn - front board detached, rear board almost detached. Lettering label on spine missing. Tears to leather, sections of spine missing. The four plates are frontis - View of Malmesbury Abbey p97 - An ancient arch near the south bridge p104 - The Market Cross p153 - A ground plan of the Town of Malmesbury The plates are closely trimmed. Browned and spotted throughout. Stained in places. Final 50 or so pages are much more heavily browned. Worming to the lower inner margin of the first 30 pages. Ink ownership inscriptions: front free end paper - Miss Ponting, Frampton Cotterell, Glostershire. Half title page - W Ponting 1806 [written in ink + pencil] Pencil notes, or dates throughout, presumably written in as a section was read. Ink inscription to a front free end paper - This book if borrowed by a friend Right welcome shall he be To read to study not to lend But to return to me not that imparteth knowledge doth Diminish learnings store But books I find if often lent Return to me no more." Another inscription at the rear, in ink and pencil "In bloom of youth she's snatch'd from hence. She had not room to make defence for bigger fierce snatch'd her away. And now she lives in a bed of clay until the resurrection day, Miss Twynnery" [some words are difficult to decipher].