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[COACHING] [Manuscript Account Book] London and Sevenoaks Coach 1868

Records of the London and Seven Oaks Coach [COACHES]. [MANUSCRIPT ACCOUNT BOOK]. Tunbridge, London and Sevenoaks Coach. Begun and Ended! [N.p. (London)]: [1868]-1872. Folio (12 7/16 x 7 7/8 inches; 317 x 201 mm.). Written in ink on blue paper (watermarked W. Stradling 1863") ruled in ink. [178] leaves. Quarter parchment over vellum boards. Front cover lettered in ink: London and Sevenoaks Coach/Begun Ended. Marbled edges and endpapers. Ink initials at foot of front cover: C.A.R.H. Additional ink initials on front cover: J.J.H. Binding rubbed and worn; original backstrip expertly restored; text clean. Short tear (1 1/4 inch) to lower margin of last leaf of 1870 season.The era of British coaches and coaching are brought back to life with this manuscript account book of one of the most renowned coaches and routes of them all."C.A.R.H." was Charles A. R. Hoare, Esq., who, prior to assuming proprietorship of the London Seven Oaks coach, was Master of the Vale of White Horse hounds."Towards the end of the season of 1867, Mr. Charles Hoare started a coach between Beckenham and Sevenoaks. This developed the following year into the Sevenoaks coach, starting from Hatchett's [White Horse Cellar, in London], and this carried such good loads, that in 1868 its proprietor carried it on to Tunbridge Wells, to the delight of thousands who have since enjoyed the exquisite scenery it has introduced them to. Since 1868 the Brighton has continued a single coach, but several new candidates for public favour have appeared" (Old and New London: Volume Four 1878, p. 262)."Mr. Charles Hoare appeared for the second year in the role of coach proprietor; but this time ran from London to Sevenoaks instead of between Beckenham and Sevenoaks, with Comley as professional coachman, and Ike Simmons as guard. Mr. Hoare's coach was another link to the past. It was one of the mails built in the year 1831 by Wright, and when it was bought by Messrs. Holland & Holland (by whom it was let to Mr. Hoare on the usual mileage terms) it had V.R. and a crown on it, a proof that it had seen mail service during the reign of Her Majesty. It had, of course, a single seat only behind the guard, whose blunderbuss case was opposite, and where the second seat would be. The hind boot opened at the top, beneath the guard's feet, so that he could easily drop his mail bags into the depths below. In order to give as much room as possible for the letter bags, the hind boot was deeper tha usual; and differing from the general plan, the boot was brought out flush with the body of the coach. In order to allow of the extra depth of the boot, the hind axle was bent downwards. The 'old school' will perhaps smile at notice being drawn to these details; but they will pardon the digression on remembering that since coaches were driven off the road, a race has arisen to which the 'revival' is history, and the fashion of the Park drags a pattern, Such, at all events, was the Sevenoaks coach when it first came into the possession of Messrs. Holland & Holland; but, in order to adapt it to modern requirements, the guard's seat was lengthened to carry four, and a like number of passengers were accommodated where the guard's armory had erstwhile been" (Roy, Henry Charles Fitz, Duke of Beaufort. Driving. London: Longmans, Green, 1890, pp. 277-278).The manuscript begins on the verso of first leaf with a list the fares from London to Dulwich, Crystal Pal e, Beckenham, Farnboro, Riverhead, and Sevenoaks, both Inside and Outside, with Box Seat 1/- extra. The accounts begin with the first season, Friday May 1st/[18]68 to Monday 26th Octr. ([40] leaves, followed by [2] blank leaves).Each page is divided into columns listing the passengers names, the destination, the number and location of their seats, and the amount/fare paid.The accounts end August 21, 1872. It was in that year that Charles Hoare retired, leaving the Earl of Bective and Colonel Hathorn in command of the coach and route. In all, a unique relic of a bygone era in British mail and personal transportation.

$US6500

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