North Wales Guide Ward Lock 1940s Twelfth Edition Wartime Maps Insert
 
A Pictorial and Descriptive Guide to North Wales (Northern Section)
Twelfth Edition, Revised – Ward, Lock & Co., c.1940–41
 
Title & Publication Details
 
Title: A Pictorial and Descriptive Guide to North Wales (Northern Section)
Coverage: Llandudno, The Colwyns, Rhyl, Chester, Conway, Deganwy, Penmaenmawr, Llanfairfechan, Bangor, Anglesey, Bettws-y-Coed, Llanrwst, Capel Curig, Caernarvon, Snowdon, etc.
Edition: Twelfth Edition, Revised
Publisher: Ward, Lock & Co., Limited, Warwick House, Salisbury Square, London and Melbourne
Date: Undated on title page; publisher’s catalogue dated Series 1940–41
Printer: Butler & Tanner Ltd., Frome and London
Includes a special section for motorists, with sixty illustrations.
 
Physical Description
 
• Red cloth over boards with curved edges
• Lettering to boards and spine
• Illustrated map design to the front
• Rear board with period advertising for Cosmos Lamps
• Advertisements on pastedowns and at front and rear
 
Dimensions: approx. 17.2 × 11.3 × 1.7 cm
Weight: approx. 252 g
 
Maps, Plates & Completeness
 
The book includes an original publisher’s wartime insert stating that, due to the Control of Maps Order and other exigencies of the situation, the customary full set of maps could not be supplied.
 
Maps present:
✔ Fold-out colour map of North Wales facing the title page (present, with inner-edge rip and tape repair)
✔ Map on page 35
✔ Map on page 127
✔ Map on page 145
✔ Map on page 209
 
Maps not present due to wartime restriction:
✘ Map facing page 9
✘ Map facing page 41
✘ Map facing page 71
✘ Map facing page 87
✘ Map facing page 105
✘ Map facing page 175
✘ Map facing page 191
✘ Map facing page 221
 
All sixty illustrations are present.
 
Historical & Travel Context
 
This guide belongs to Ward, Lock’s classic inter-war and wartime travel series, produced at a time when British tourism was adapting to fuel rationing, restricted printing resources, and map controls.
 
The inclusion of a Special Section for Motorists reflects the growing importance of car travel in Britain just before and during the Second World War. The inserted publisher’s note is a fascinating survival from this period, directly linking the book to wartime conditions and government controls.
 
For collectors, this makes the volume not just a regional guide, but also a subtle piece of Second World War publishing history.
 
Condition Report
 
Exterior Condition
• Red cloth binding intact and sound
• Creases, light marks and light stains to the boards
• Light wear overall
• Small amount of tape on the rear
• Curved edges retained
 
Interior Condition
• Advertisements on pastedowns and at front and rear
• Tape to the inner margin of the front pastedown and following page
• Light tanning to pages
• Occasional very light foxing or small marks, not affecting text
• Tape offset marks on the title page from the adjacent map (text unobscured)
• Predominantly uncreased pages
• Pen inscriptions on the half-title only
• Light rip down the inside of the front cover, still intact
• Very small edge rips to a few pages, not affecting text
• All pages secure; a few slightly loose at the lower inner margins but still attached
• Very light and partial gutter cracks between:
– A small handful of pages
– and partial crack beside the back pastedown
Collation: All 232 pages plus rear advertisements present and complete.
 
Rarity & Collector Notes
 
Later wartime Ward, Lock guides with the Control of Maps Order insert are increasingly hard to find in complete, original state. While not rare in the absolute sense, copies retaining their original wartime notice, intact fold-out colour map, and full illustration complement are distinctly desirable.
 
This is a strong example of a Second World War era British travel guide, with clear historical interest beyond simple tourism.