CROSSING THE FIRTH OF FORTH: "The Forth Bridge" (Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science; Held at Southampton in August 1882, pp. 419-433) by Baker, B[enjamin] - 1883

London: John Murray, 1883. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Contains Benjamin Baker's (1840-1907) article explaning the now iconic, Forth Bridge that crosses the Firth of Forth in eastern Scotland, north of Edinburgh. Built between 1882 and 1889, this article was published at the outset of construction and contains a 33"x8-3/8" folding plate (VIII) with elevations and cross sections of this elegant cantilevered, suspension bridge. In 2016 the Forth Bridge was voted Scotland's greatest man-made wonder; it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Also contains article by John Clark Hawkshaw (1841-1921), the son of John Hawkshaw (1811-1891), explaining his father's proposale for a cross-channel tunnel from England to France. The "Chunnel," completed in 1994, follows a very similar path. lxxviii, 716, 94, 32 pp. Burgundy trade binding with blind embossed borders and floral motifs at corners, gold embossed titling to spine, minor staining to rear cover. Front and rear pastedowns beginning to tear at gutters but text block still tight to boards and barely noticeable. Clean and crisp within.