Murray's Handbooks for Travellers

Murray's Handbooks for Travellers were travel guide books published in London by John Murray beginning in 1836.^[1] The series covered tourist destinations in Europe and parts of Asia and northern Africa. According to scholar James Buzard, the Murray style "exemplified the exhaustive rational planning that was as much an ideal of the emerging tourist industry as it was of British commercial and industrial organization generally."^[2] The guidebooks became popular enough to appear in works of fiction such as Charles Lever's Dodd Family Abroad.^[3] After 1915 the series continued as the Blue Guides and the familiar gold gilted red Murrays Handbooks published by John Murray London including the long running Handbook to India, Pakistan, Ceylon & Burma which concluded with the 21st edition in 1968 before changing from the original format of 1836 to a more modern paperback edition of 1975.

List of Murray's Handbooks by date of publication

1830s

A Hand-book for Travellers on the Continent (1st ed.), London: John Murray and Son, 1836,
OCLC 1039483584

A Handbook for Travellers in Switzerland (1st ed.), London: J. Murray and Son, 1838,
OCLC 794649338

A Hand-book for Travellers on the Continent (2nd ed.), London: John Murray and Son, 1838,
OL 22881568M

A Hand-book for Travellers on the Continent (3rd ed.), London: J. Murray and Son, 1839,
OL 23546118M

1840s

1890s

1900s

Handbook for Travellers in Greece (7th ed.), London: Murray, 1900,
OL 24368063M

OL 6991294M

OL 25302448M

Handbook for Travellers in South Germany and Austria (15th ed.). London: J. Murray. 1903 – via Internet Archive. + Index
John Cooke (1906), Handbook for Travellers in Ireland (7th ed.), London: Edward Stanford,
OL 24591180M
(Cover title: Murray's Handbook Ireland)

OL 6991983M

Handbook for Travellers in Constantinople, Brûsa, and the Troad, London: J. Murray, 1907

1910s

A Handbook for Travellers in India, Burma, and Ceylon (8th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1911,
OL 23302766M via Hathi Trust. + (Index
)

List of Murray's Handbooks by geographic coverage

Algeria

A handbook for travellers in Algeria, London: John Murray, 1874 Digitized version
R. Lambert Playfair (1882), Handbook to the Mediterranean (2nd revised ed.), London: John Murray Pt. 1
R. Lambert Playfair (1887), Handbook for Travellers in Algeria and Tunis; Algiers, Oran, Constantine, Carthage, etc. (3rd ed.), London: J. Murray
R. Lambert Playfair (1890), Handbook for Travellers in Algeria and Tunis (4th ed.), London: J. Murray,
OL 14045975M

R. Lambert Playfair (1892), Handbook to the Mediterranean (3rd ed.), London: John Murray Pt. 1
R. Lambert Playfair (1895), Handbook for Travellers in Algeria and Tunis (5th ed.), London: J. Murray,
OL 6953677M

Belgium

Murray's Handbook for Belgium and the Rhine, London: J. Murray, 1852,
OL 23365744M

Handbook for Travellers in Holland and Belgium (19th ed.), London: Murray, 1876,
OL 24606062M

Handbook for Travellers in Holland and Belgium (20th ed.), London: John Murray, 1881 – via HathiTrust

Egypt

OL 23544285M

France

Germany

Hand-Book for Travellers on the Continent: Being a Guide through Holland, Belgium, Prussia and Northern Germany, and Along the Rhine (2nd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1838,
OCLC 2030550
- Handbook for Travellers on the Continent: Being a Guide to Holland, Belgium, Prussia, Northern Germany, and the Rhine from Holland to Switzerland (17th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1871,
  OL 6936276M

Handbook for Travellers in Southern Germany (3rd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1844
- Handbook for Travellers in Southern Germany (9th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1863 + Index
- 1871 ed. + Index
Murray's Handbook for Belgium and the Rhine, London: J. Murray, 1852,
OL 23365744M + Index

Handbook for North Germany. London: J. Murray. 1877. + Index
- Handbook for North Germany (20th ed.). London: J. Murray. 1886 – via HathiTrust.
Handbook for Travellers in South Germany and Austria (15th ed.). London: J. Murray. 1903. + Index
- Google books version + Index

Great Britain

England

Handbook for England and Wales, London: J. Murray, 1878,
OL 6924856M
- 1890 ed.

East Midlands region

Handbook for Travellers in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Staffordshire (3rd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1892,
OL 6924846M + Index
- 1874 ed.
Handbook for Northamptonshire and Rutland (2nd ed.), London, Edwards Stanford, 1901.

East of England region

Handbook for Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire, London: J. Murray, 1870,
OL 14010753M
- Handbook for Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire (2nd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1875,
  OL 6924844M + Index

Handbook for Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Huntingdonshire. London: J. Murray. 1895.

London region

North West England region

Handbook for Lancashire, London: J. Murray, 1880,
OL 6924853M

Handbook for Westmorland, Cumberland, and the lakes (2nd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1869,
OCLC 5358890

South East England region

A Handbook for Travellers in Kent and Sussex, London: J. Murray, 1858,
OL 7165074M
- 1868 (3rd) edition
Handbook for Travellers in Kent (4th ed.). London: J. Murray. 1877.
A Handbook for Travellers in Surrey, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight (3rd ed.), London: John Murray, 1876
A Handbook for Travellers in Berks, Bucks, and Oxfordshire, London: J. Murray, 1860,
OL 6924857M
- 1882 ed.
Murray's Cyclist's Roadbook: from London through Guildford, Chichester, Portsmouth, and Southampton to the New Forest and back by Romsey, Winchester, Guildford, Dorking, and Epsom. London: J. Murray. 1897.
Handbook for Travellers in the Isle of Wight (5th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1898,
hdl:2027/njp.32101072878026

South West England region

A Hand-book for Travellers in Devon & Cornwall, London: J. Murray, 1851,
OL 6924165M

Handbook for Travellers in Wiltshire, Dorsetshire and Somersetshire, London: J. Murray, 1859,
OL 23378146M. Index
- Handbook for Travellers in Wiltshire, Dorsetshire, and Somersetshire (4th ed.), London: John Murray, 1882 + Index
Handbook for Travellers in Devon (11th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1895,
hdl:2027/nyp.33433075903538 + Index

West Midlands region

Handbook for Shropshire, Cheshire and Lancashire, London: J. Murray, 1870,
OL 6924861M

Handbook for Travellers in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Herefordshire, London: J. Murray, 1872,
OL 6924859M + Index

Handbook of Warwickshire. London: J. Murray. 1899.

Yorkshire and the Humber region

Handbook for Travellers in Yorkshire (3rd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1882,
OL 6924849M + Index
- Handbook for Yorkshire (4th ed.). London: Edward Stanford. 1904. + Index

Scotland

Handbook for Travellers in Scotland (4th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1875,
OL 6933923M

Wales

A Handbook for Travellers in South Wales, London: J. Murray, 1860,
OL 6924864M

A Handbook for Travellers in North Wales (3rd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1868,
OL 6924865M

Greece

A Hand-book for Travellers in the Ionian Islands, Greece, Turkey, Asia Minor, and Constantinople, London: J. Murray, 1840,
OL 6952607M

A Hand-book for Travellers in the Ionian Islands, Greece, Turkey, Asia Minor, and Constantinople (2nd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1845,
OL 6952607M + Index

Handbook for Travellers in Greece, London: J. Murray, 1854,
OL 23389359M

Handbook for Travellers in Greece (4th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1872
R. Lambert Playfair (1882), Handbook to the Mediterranean (2nd revised ed.), London: John Murray Pt. 1
Handbook for Travellers in Greece (5th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1884,
OL 6949054M

Handbook for Travellers in Greece (7th ed.), London: Murray, 1900,
OL 24368063M

India

A Handbook for India, London: J. Murray, 1859,
OL 6953785M

Handbook of the Madras Presidency (2nd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1879,
OL 23389366M
(Includes guide to Madras City)

Handbook of the Bombay Presidency with an Account of Bombay City (2nd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1881,
OL 6531525M + Index

Handbook of the Bengal Presidency with an Account of Calcutta City, London: J. Murray, 1882,
OL 6531524M + Index

A Handbook for Travellers in India and Ceylon, London: J. Murray, 1892
A Handbook for Travellers in India, Burma, and Ceylon (5th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1906
- A Handbook for Travellers in India, Burma, and Ceylon (8th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1911,
  OL 23302766M + Index

Ireland

Handbook for Travellers in Ireland (2nd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1866,
OL 6936234M + Index

John Cooke (1906), Handbook for Travellers in Ireland (7th ed.), London: Edward Stanford,
OL 24591180M + Index
(Cover title: Murray's Handbook Ireland)

Italy

Handbook for Travellers in Central Italy, London: J. Murray and Son, 1843,
OL 6597087M

Handbook for Travellers in North Italy, London: John Murray, 1842[6]
- Hand-book for Travellers in Northern Italy (3rd ed.), London: John Murray, 1847
- Hand-book for Travellers in Northern Italy (4th ed.), London: John Murray, 1852
- Hand-book for Travellers in Northern Italy (10th ed.), London: John Murray, 1866
- Hand-book for Travellers in Northern Italy (16th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1897,
  OL 6936521M + Index

Handbook of Florence and its Environs, London: J. Murray, 1867
A Handbook of Rome and its Environs (8th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1867,
OL 23302746M
- A Handbook of Rome and its Environs (14th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1888,
  OL 23378173M
- A Handbook of Rome and the Campagna (16th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1899,
  OL 6947400M

Handbook for Travellers in Southern Italy (6th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1868,
OL 23389358M
- Handbook for Travellers in Southern Italy (8th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1878

Japan

Ernest Mason Satow; A. G. S. Hawes (1884). Handbook for Travellers in Central & Northern Japan; being a guide to Tōkiō, Kiōto, Ōzaka, Hakodate, Nagasaki, and other cities (2nd ed.). London: J. Murray – via Hathi Trust.
OL 6991294M

OL 25302448M

OL 6991983M

Handbook for Travellers in Japan (9th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1913 – via Hathi Trust + index

Portugal

Handbook for Travellers in Portugal (2nd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1856
Handbook for Travellers in Portugal (3rd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1875
Handbook for Travellers in Portugal (4th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1887 + Index

Russia

Hand-book for Northern Europe, London: John Murray, 1849. v.2: Finland and Russia
Hand-book for Travellers in Russia, Poland, and Finland (2nd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1868,
OL 23414674M

Hand-book for Travellers in Russia, Poland, and Finland (4th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1888 + Index

Scandinavia

Hand-book for Northern Europe, London: John Murray, 1849
Hand-book for Travellers in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden (3rd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1871
Hand-book for Travellers in Sweden, London: J. Murray, 1877
Hand-book for Travellers in Norway (7th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1880 + Index
- 1892 ed.
Handbook for Travellers in Denmark, with Sleswig and Holstein, and Iceland (5th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1883

Spain

Richard Ford (1845), A Handbook for Travellers in Spain
, London: J. Murray

OCLC 2145740 + Index
- Pt.1 (Andalucia, Ronda and Granada, Murcia, Valencia, and Catalonia)
- Pt. 2 (Estremadura, Leon, Gallicia, the Asturias, the Castiles (Old and New), the Basque Provinces, Arragon, and Navarre)
Richard Ford (1882), A Handbook for Travellers in Spain (6th ed.), London: J. Murray. Pt. 2 + Index

Richard Ford (1890), Handbook for Travellers in Spain (7th ed.), London: J. Murray + Index
- v.1 (through p.298)
- v.2
Richard Ford (1892), Handbook for Travellers in Spain (8th ed.), London: J. Murray – via HathiTrust + Index

Switzerland

Handbook for Travellers in Switzerland (12th ed.), London: J. Murray, 1867^[7]
- Handbook for Travellers in Switzerland, London: J. Murray, 1886
- Handbook for Switzerland (19th ed.), London: Edward Stanford, 1904

Syria

Handbook for Travellers in Syria and Palestine, London: J. Murray, 1858,
OCLC 2300777. Pt. 1; Pt. 2 (p. 291-652); index

Handbook for Travellers in Syria and Palestine, London: J. Murray, 1868. + Index

Turkey

A Hand-book for Travellers in the Ionian Islands, Greece, Turkey, Asia Minor, and Constantinople, London: J. Murray, 1840,
OL 6952607M

A Hand-book for Travellers in the Ionian Islands, Greece, Turkey, Asia Minor, and Constantinople, London: J. Murray, 1845,
OL 6952607M + Index

A Handbook for Travellers in Turkey (3rd ed.), London: J. Murray, 1854,
OL 6952606M. (Index
).

R. Lambert Playfair (1882), Handbook to the Mediterranean (2nd revised ed.), London: John Murray Pt. 1
R. Lambert Playfair (1892), Handbook to the Mediterranean (3rd revised ed.), London: John Murray,
OCLC 6853896 Pt.1; Pt. 2

OL 6953016M. (Index
).
- 1895 ed. in Google books
Handbook for Travellers in Constantinople, Brûsa, and the Troad, London: J. Murray, 1907

References

^ Rudy Koshar (July 1998). "'What Ought to Be Seen': Tourists' Guidebooks and National Identities in Modern Germany and Europe". Journal of Contemporary History. 33.
^ James Buzard (Autumn 1991). "The Uses of Romanticism: Byron and the Victorian Continental Tour". Victorian Studies. 35.
^ James Buzard (January 1993). "A Continent of Pictures: Reflections on the "Europe" of Nineteenth-Century Tourists". PMLA. 108.
^ Stevan K. Pavlowitch (June 1962). "Early Nineteenth-Century Serbia in the Eyes of British Travelers". Slavic Review. 21.
JSTOR 1789266
.

ISBN 9780631233640, Francis Palgrave
... author of the first edition of Murray's Handbook for Travellers in North Italy

S2CID 162720571
.

Further reading

OL 7110475M
)

S. Smiles (1891). "Murray's Handbooks". Memoir and correspondence of the late John Murray.

W.B.C. Lister, ed. (1993). A Bibliography of Murray's Handbooks for Travellers. Dereham Books.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murray%27s_Handbooks_for_Travellers&oldid=1218074170"

[1] Rudy Koshar (July 1998). "'What Ought to Be Seen': Tourists' Guidebooks and National Identities in Modern Germany and Europe". Journal of Contemporary History. 33.

[2] James Buzard (Autumn 1991). "The Uses of Romanticism: Byron and the Victorian Continental Tour". Victorian Studies. 35.

[3] James Buzard (January 1993). "A Continent of Pictures: Reflections on the "Europe" of Nineteenth-Century Tourists". PMLA. 108.

[4] Stevan K. Pavlowitch (June 1962). "Early Nineteenth-Century Serbia in the Eyes of British Travelers". Slavic Review. 21.

[5] JSTOR 1789266
.

[6] ISBN 9780631233640, Francis Palgrave
... author of the first edition of Murray's Handbook for Travellers in North Italy

[7] S2CID 162720571
.

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[2]

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