MEMOIR OF PONT-Y-TU-PRYDD OVER THE RIVER TAFE IN THE COUNTY OF GLAMORGAN.

[London : E. Mackenzie, printer]. Printed for private circulation, 1846.. MEMOIR of PONT-Y-TU-PRYDD, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR, read before a meeting of the Institution of Civil Engineers, April 4th, 1838: printed for private circulation by permission of the Council, 1846. Slim 4to, 280 x 220 mm, 11 x 8½ inches, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY, half-title dated 1846, engraved title page dated 1838 and 2 engraved plates on thick paper, all with tissue guards, 8 pages, first page printed red and black with central engraved portrait vignette of William Edwards, bound in publisher's original blind stamped dark green cloth, gilt lettering to upper cover, pale yellow endpapers, all edges gilt, small Westleys & Clark binder's ticket to bottom of rear pastedown. Slight wear to head and tail of spine, tiny hole to centre of spine, corners bumped and slighty worn, small stain to lower margin of engraved title page and the 2 plates, some light age-browning and foxing throughout, inner paper hinges cracked, otherwise a very good copy. 4 copies only listed in Library Hub Discover. The presentation reads: "George Munday Esq with the best wishes of the Author". The name Pontypridd is from "Pont-y-ty-pridd" the Welsh for "bridge by the earthen house", a reference to a succession of wooden bridges that formerly spanned the River Taff at this point. Pontypridd is, however, more famous for the Old Bridge, a stone bridge across the River Taff built in 1756 by William Edwards. This bridge was the third attempted by Edwards, and at the time of its construction was the longest stone-built single arch bridge in Europe. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE, FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST.