The present state of London: or, Memorials comprehending a full and succinct account of the ancient and modern state thereof

London has been a magnet for tourists for centuries. By the late 1600s it was already one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world and visitors arrived daily to transact business or just see the sights.

This early London guidebook vividly describes the capital's main landmarks, many of which are illustrated with woodblock engravings. It also contains an analysis of the City's government, as well as a list of postal rates for both home and abroad.

The guidbook's author, Thomas De Laune, ran a grammar school in London and wrote religious texts. After the violence of the English Civil War (1625-1649) and the re-establishment of the monarchy under Charles II in 1660, nononformists (Christians who do not conform to the doctrine of the Church of England) were considered a threat to the state. As a religious nonconformist, De Laune was tried on a charge of sedition and sent to Newgate prison where he died in 1685.