1888 2vol Victoria & Its Metropolis Antique Australian History Book Set w/Map

Victoria And Its Metropolis Past And Present

By Alexander Sutherland

With Two Hundred And Fifty Eight Illustrations

Published by McCarron, Bird & Co Publishers: Melbourne 1888

Complete 2 Volume Set With Foldout Map Of Victoria - Suit Rebind

"This substantial two-volume work, Victoria and Its Metropolis: Past and Present by Alexander Sutherland, published in Melbourne by McCarron, Bird & Co. in 1888, stands as one of the great illustrated records of colonial Victoria at the height of its late nineteenth-century prosperity. Produced during the boom years, it offers a sweeping account of the colony's development, its institutions, industries, and leading citizens, alongside a richly detailed portrait of Melbourne as an emerging imperial city. The work is notable for its ambition and scale, combining historical narrative with contemporary observation in a manner designed to celebrate both progress and identity. This example, offered as a complete two-volume set, retains its original decorative bindings though now in worn condition, with detached or weakened boards and general age-related wear, making it an ideal candidate for professional rebinding while preserving its complete text block and illustrative content. Despite its condition, the work remains a highly desirable and increasingly scarce cornerstone reference on colonial Victoria, particularly valued for its illustrations and map, and would appeal strongly to collectors of Australian history, Melbourne heritage, and nineteenth-century illustrated works."