First Edition 1959: London by Jacques Boussard (with Fold-Out Map)

Take a captivating journey back to a bygone era with this 1959 first edition printing of London by Jacques Boussard. Translated from French by Jean Penfold, this exquisite volume serves as both an intellectual travel guide and a beautiful historical archive. The book contains 183 stunning heliogravure landmark photographs that offer a striking, nostalgic look at mid-century London. Complete with its original frontispiece fold-out map of the city, this text masterfully guides readers through early London history, local culture, and classic architecture. Enclosed in a protective mylar sleeve, it makes an unforgettable vintage gift for anglophiles, historical travel buffs, or photography enthusiasts. CONDITION Main Book: Very Good (VG) Boards & Spine: The original light green cloth boards are firm, straight, and show little structural wear. Spine binding remains tight and square. Interior: Pages are clean. The text, heliogravure photos, and large fold-out map are fully intact, clean, and completely unmarked. Note on Title Page: There is a small ink dedication from a previous owner written in black felt-tip pen on the title page. The ink has bled through the title page a bit and left a faint shadow on the adjacent pages, but it does not obscure any text or photos. Dust Jacket: Good (G) Cosmetics: Shows honest vintage wear with a few minor, light stains on the panels. Preservation: The dust jacket has been slightly trimmed at the bottom edge to fit inside a mylar protector. As a result, a sliver of the green cloth boards peeks through at the very bottom. 🎨 A Curious Fun Fact: The breathtaking imagery in this book was printed using the heliogravure (photogravure) method. This mid-century tonal printing process uses copper plates to press ink deep into the paper texture, producing rich, velvety black-and-white images that look and feel like fine-art gallery prints rather than flat modern ink.