The object of the guide remains unchanged from that defined in the preface to the 1935 edition by Lord D’Arbernon the Chairman of the Standing Commission at that time. He wrote as follows ‘The present guide is not intended as a substitute for the excellent guides and descriptive handbooks which each Institution publishes about its own collections, but it is meant rather to give a bird’s-eye view of them all. The very vastness of the National collections makes it difficult for visitors to see all that they would like to see when their time is limited’. he went on to express the hope that : ‘This brief general guide may not only help visitors to plan their visits to the best advantage but that it will reveal to many of them the existence of sources of interest hitherto unsuspected or imperfectly realized’ This is an interesting insight into the history of London’s popular tourist spots.

paperback – some wear and tear to cover otherwise in good condition in view of its age.