Introduced with a dedication addressed to Sir Walter Scott by John Britton, this book presents a comprehensive and detailed portrait of the city of Edinburgh in the first 20 years of the 19th century. The 88 pages of text are accompanied by a further 48 pages of beautiful engravings of buildings, taken from paintings by the well-known artist Thomas H. Shepherd. Thomas Hosmer Shepherd (17931864) was a British topographical watercolour artist well known for his architectural paintings. Our book, in contrast to others offered for sale on-line elsewhere, appears to be still in the original publisher's binding of dark blue-grey textured cloth, with title in gilt on a red panel on the spine. External wear is consistent with age and probable use, with an almost-detached spine covering, a good deal of discolouration and staining, and frank damage to all four bumped corners. Inside, the rear endpaper is intact, the front one partly broken towards the bottom, and the front cover is loose. Th