{"product_id":"ashdown-british-castles-1911","title":"Antique British Castles Charles Ashdown 1911 Illustrated Color Plates","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eBritish Castles by Charles H. Ashdown, published by Adam and Charles Black, London, 1911, is one of those Edwardian illustrated books that earns its place on a shelf rather than just filling it. Ashdown was a well-regarded popular historian of British arms and medieval architecture, and this survey moves through Norman keeps, baileys, forebuildings, and defensive systems with the kind of readable authority that made his books genuinely useful to educated general readers. The 32 full-page colour plates are the visual heart of it, depicting Dover, Corfe, Bodiam, Pevensey, and more in a warm painterly style typical of quality Edwardian colour printing, with architectural plans and line drawings throughout the text. The green cloth binding with its castle vignette blocked in black and gilt is handsome and intact. A serious reference that also happens to look exactly right on a library shelf or reading table.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003e[d]Author | Charles H. Ashdown [d]Title | British Castles [d]Publisher | Adam and Charles Black, London [d]Date | 1911 [d]Edition | 1911 first edition (no later edition identified) [d]Binding | Green cloth boards, castle vignette blocked in black and gilt to front board and spine [d]Pages | 208, with 32 full-page colour plates and plans and diagrams throughout the text [d]Dimensions | 8 in H x 9.5 in W x 1.5 in D [d]Language | English [d]Origin | United Kingdom\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap\"\u003e[condition] Green cloth boards are sound with age-appropriate toning to the cloth. The gilt lettering on the spine is sharp and fully legible and the castle vignette to the front board retains good detail. Both hinges show slight loosening but the text block remains attached and the binding holds well. No splitting or cracking to the spine. The text block is clean throughout with no inscriptions, bookplates, or ownership marks. The 32 colour plates are present and display well. General light toning to the page edges consistent with age. A very good copy overall.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Austyn Marie Design","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51402652746006,"sku":"AMD-03109","price":275.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0896\/4623\/5926\/files\/June_2026_drews_books-8212.jpg?v=1781118655","url":"https:\/\/austyn-marie.myshopify.com\/products\/ashdown-british-castles-1911","provider":"Austyn Marie Design","version":"1.0","type":"link"}