Original Bath Guide from 1818: as used by Austen's Catherine Morland [?]

[Jane AUSTEN] - BATH, England. - MEYLER & Son (printers & publishers).

The Original Bath Guide, considerably enlarged and improved; forming an indispensible pocket companion for the visitor and inhabitant. Included in this work are An Essay on the Efficacy of the Bath Waters … A Description of Ancient and Modern Bath… and a variety of miscellaneous information.

Bath: printed by and for Meyler and Son, adjoining the Pump-room, [undated but 1817-1818], 12mo signed in 6s (6 7/8 x 4 1/8 inches; 174 x 104mm). Pp. [1-]4-138, 2 folding engraved maps [one dated 1817], 2 engraved plates [one folding], 1 full-page illustration. (Light overall toning). Original printed boards, ‘1818’ date on the upper cover, letterpress note about charges for ‘drinking the Waters’ printed on the front pastedown (rebacked with vellum).

Detailed guide, in excellent condition, including incidental information which is often overlooked. A much-published work, this particular edition appeared in the same year as Jane Austen's posthumous work, Northanger Abbey: it is not too much of a stretch to imagine Catherine Morland consulting this work as she navigated the complicated social seas of polite Bath.  The 'Bath Guide' appeared in a number of forms over many years, and had a long and quite complicated publication history. For example, the imprint in the present example concludes with a note that the Meylers ‘have purchased from the assignee of the representative of the late Mr. W. Taylor … his share of the above work; likewise the plans of Bath; and map of the five miles round the city.’