The Property Owners' Handbook M. Cheverton-Brown 1922 First Edition Property Law
 
Bibliographic Details
Title: The Property Owners' Handbook
Author: M. Cheverton-Brown
Publisher: A. Brown & Sons, Limited, London, Hull and York
Printer: A. Brown & Sons, Ltd., Hull
Year: 1922
Edition: First Edition
Illustrations: None
Dust Jacket: None
Pagination: xvi + 267 pages
Dimensions: Approximately 18.7 × 13.2 × 3 cm
Weight: Approximately 308 g
 
Edition & Dating
First Edition, 1922. There is no explicit edition statement in the present copy, but specialist antiquarian bibliographical records identify the 1922 issue published by A. Brown & Sons as the First Edition.
The title page is dated 1922, while the author's preface is dated January 1922 from 17 Albion Street, Hull, providing contemporary evidence for the publication date.
 
Historical & Bibliographic Context
The Property Owners' Handbook was compiled and edited by M. Cheverton-Brown as a practical work of reference for those involved in the ownership, management and administration of property in Britain.
In his preface, Cheverton-Brown explains that the book was intended for solicitors, architects, estate agents, auctioneers, valuers and property owners, including those who owned no more than the house in which they lived. He describes the work as a practical guide designed to provide ready reference to the many Acts of Parliament and technicalities involved in dealing with real estate.
The extensive contents provide a revealing contemporary picture of British property ownership in the early 1920s. Subjects include agreements and contracts, ancient lights, arbitration, architects, auctioneers and estate agents, building societies, building materials, dangerous buildings, dilapidations, drains and sewers, estate duty, fixtures, freehold property, housing, income tax, insurance, mortgages, notices to quit, purchasing property, rates and rating, repairs, sanitation, slums, solicitors and clients, statutes of limitation, tenants' liability for repairs and trespassers.
Of particular historical interest is the section concerning the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1920, which provides an explanatory summary of the legislation. The book therefore offers a contemporary insight into the changing relationship between property owners, tenants and government regulation during the period following the First World War.
The volume also contains numerous practical tables dealing with subjects including rent, income, ventilation, waste, water measurement and pressure, weights of materials, whitewashing, and the calculation of material prices and hourly wages. These give the book an additional social-history interest, illustrating the everyday practical concerns of property ownership and maintenance at the time.
 
About The Author
M. Cheverton-Brown, identified in specialist bibliographical records as Martin Cheverton-Brown, was closely involved with property owners' organisations in Hull and nationally.
In the preface, he dedicates the work to his colleagues and friends in the Hull and District Property Owners' Protection Association, Limited, and to the Executive and Council of the National Federation of Property Owners and Ratepayers. He states that he drew upon forty years of personal knowledge and experience when compiling the handbook, together with information drawn from other relevant works.
 
Binding & Exterior Description
Original red cloth over boards and spine, pictorially blocked to the upper board with a house and garden, borders and contrasting black and white lettering. The spine is lettered in black.
The original binding remains intact and robust. There is light fading to the lettering and pictorial decoration, light fading to the cloth on the spine, some surface marks and light rubbing to the edges, together with soft bumping to the corners.
The original pictorial cloth remains attractive and gives the volume good period character.
 
Interior Condition
The paper is lightly tanned, with heavier tanning to the free endpapers. There is foxing to the text-block edges, preliminary pages and towards the end of the volume.
Apart from this, the pages are generally neat and clean and predominantly uncreased. There is some creasing to the inner margins and the occasional further crease, together with a few very small edge tears. These do not affect the text.
A contemporary pencil ownership inscription appears on the front free endpaper, reading:
“June 1922 S. Hollingworth”
The text remains clear and legible throughout. The pages are secure and the binding remains tight and sound.
 
Physical Details
Pagination: xvi + 267 pages
Dimensions: Approximately 18.7 × 13.2 × 3 cm
Weight: Approximately 308 g
 
Completeness
All pages are present and have been checked. No missing pages have been identified.
 
Collector Summary
A scarce First Edition of this substantial 1922 practical handbook.
Covering property law, rents, mortgages, taxation, housing, repairs, sanitation, rates and numerous practical aspects of property management, the book provides a fascinating contemporary insight into property ownership and regulation in Britain shortly after the First World War.
The original red pictorial cloth, complete contents and contemporary June 1922 ownership inscription make this an appealing example for collectors of legal history, housing history, social history, property and landlord-and-tenant studies, as well as those interested in the everyday administration of British property during the interwar period.