Hardcover, ruby red laminated paper wrapped cover, with dust jacket, the text on the spine in gold-coloured ink, fully entitled "Memoirs of the Geological Survey, England and Wales on The Manufacture of Gunflints, the Methods of Excavating for Flint, The Age of Palaeolithic Man, and the Connexion Between Neolithic Art and the Gun-flint Trade", by Sydney B.J. Skertchly, F.G.S. (Fellow of the Geological Society of London), originally published by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, carried out by the Geological Society of London, printed by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in London in 1879, this reprinted edition with an Introduction by Seymour de Lotbiniere, published and printed in Canada by Museum Restoration Service of Bloomfield, Ontario and Alexandria Bay, New York in 1984, limited edition of 450 numbered copies, ISBN 0-919316-86-7. As stated on the dust jacket: "In 1879, Sydney B.J. Skertchly wrote what has become the definitive study of the manufacture of gunflints in England. He described and illustrated the tools of the trade and the techniques of manufacture. His illustrations include two views of 36 gunflints made in England, France, or Germany, in their actual size. Although Skertchly was an excellent reporter of what he saw, he was not as effective as an historian. In order to put Skertchly's historical material in perspective, Seymour de Lotbiniere, Britain's leading authority on the gunflint and the gunflint making trade, prepared an introduction which "with over 100 years of hindsight" it is now possible to write. This important title will be of inestimable value to the archaeologist, historian and gun user." The modern portion of the book begins with a Foreword by S. James Gooding, Editor of the Museum Restoration Service, followed by a nine page Introduction by Seymour de Lotbiniere. The actual reprinted portion of the 1879 publication begins with two Notices, followed by a Preface by Skertchly dated February 28, 1876 at Brandon, a Table of Contents and a List of Illustrations. It is divided into nine sections: Introductory; Geological Position on the Flints; Tools; Method of Digging Flint; Manufacture of Gun-flints; Antiquity and Development of the Flint Trade at Brandon; Description of Specimens; Age of Palaeolithic Man; On the Connexion between Neolithic Art and the Gun-flint Trade. It concludes with a two page Index. The book contains 104 pages of text, line drawings and etchings, printed in black ink, on a white paper stock, the lead page with red ink added, measuring 175 mm (w) x 257 mm (h) x 12 mm (d). It exhibits a few stains on the bottom edges of the pages, the dust jacket with very light wear, however, the pages and the cover of the book remain pristine. Near extremely fine.
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