Justin Croft Antiquarian Books : [LOFTUS, publisher.] - The Publicans’ Guide for reducing spirits from five to one hundred gallons, in nearly four thousand examples.

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[LOFTUS, publisher.] The Publicans’ Guide for reducing spirits from five to one hundred gallons, in nearly four thousand examples. [London: Loftus, n.d., c. 1850-60.]

8bo (181 × 117 mm), pp. [ii], [i]-ii, 88. Letterpress tables throughout. Original plum-coloured cloth, title, publisher’s name, price (2/6) and barrel ornament in gilt to upper cover. Slightly faded, most pronounced at spine, five small ?ink spots to upper cover. A good copy.

Probable first edition of a practical publican’s handbook for adjusting the alcoholic strength of spirits. The publisher is probably William Robert Loftus, who published several publicans’ guides bewteen 1850 and 1890. All are now very scarce.

Worldcat list copies at King’s College, London, National Library of Scotland and UC Davis.

£40.00 (equal to approx. US$63.34* or €49.47* for 22 May 2012)

* Dollar and Euro prices are given as a guideline only. The actual exchange rate may vary according to your payment option.