English Commons and Forests: The Story of the Battle during the Last Thirty Years for Public Rights over the Commons and Forests of England and Wales (Inscribed)

First edition, first printing.  xvi, 392pp, plus publisher’s catalogue bound in at rear,  with five coloured maps.  Cherry red cloth-covered boards with gilt lettering on the spine.  Black endpapers. Cloth rubbed and rounded at corners and spine ends.  Text block edges a little toned.  Previous owner’s bookplate on front paste down. a little toning and spotting on first and last few true leaves, occasional minor chips at page edges.  There’s an ink inscription on the half title page, ‘WJ Westonhall Esq, with the author’s regards, Dec 15 1897’ but no signature. 

An account of the legal wrangles in the latter part of the 19th century to secure common rights and common lands for public use, with specific chapters on, for instance, Banstead Common, Hampstead Heath, Tollard Farnham, The New Forest, Burnham Beeches, Village Greens, Wimbledon and Wandsworth Common etc.