'Boscastle and Its Beauties' A handwritten diary of a vacati...

Hammer

£2,900

'Boscastle and Its Beauties' A handwritten diary of a vacation in Boscastle, between August and September 1882, with 103 leaves of handwriting (both sides) and 27 sepia tone photographs, bespokely bound in contemporary half leather, leather embossed title and compartmentalized spine, gilt edge. This very rare and singular work starts with meeting family in Plymouth, where the journey commences to Boscastle via a stop at 'Brown Willy' in Bodmin to take in the view. Once in Boscastle the author describes in great detail their days from August 21st to the 25th of September, with reference to photographs to the first half of the book. These include Boscastle harbour from Flagstaff Point, lower part of the village, harbour and quay, entrance to minster valley, Forrabury Church, Pentargon Waterfall, Minster Church, Pentargon Cavern, St Knightons Kieve, Trevarwith, Crackington Haven, Tintagel etc. With many descriptions of local churches, people (including a Captain Bellamy whom travelled briefly with Charles Kingsley), coves, beaches and panoramas, comparisons to William Black's Three Feathers and Robert Hunt's 'Popular Romances of the West of England'. Contains a fascinating appendix with poems (with contributions by Capt Bellamy), extracts copied from '...An English Engladime' by M. E. Braddon, and (unfortunately) an obituary for Capt John Bellamy 1886. The author of this fascinating snapshot of late Victorian Boscastle is unfortunately unknown.