The Day-book of John Walker, of Stockton-on-Tees, chemist, inventor of the Friction-Match; a well-preserved book of 272 unnumbered pages, measuring 16 1/4 x 5 1/4 ins, trimmed; every page very closely written upon; no title-page and no page-headings; paper water-marked "T. Edmonds, 1823"; bound in a stout cover of brown cardboard, originally covered with marbled paper, now almost completely worn away; no label on back; the entries (averaging about 25 to a page and 4 or 5 to a day) are all crossed through as Walker posted them into his ledger, and many are also ticked in red ink; earliest entry dated "Die Martis, August 9th 1825" and last dated "Die Mercurii Sepr 23rd 1829"; most record credit sales of the simple remedies then in use to the leading residents of the district (including Edward Pease, Esquire), though some are charged to "A Farmer", "A Woman" or "A Man"; the entires recording sales of "friction-lights" number 168 altogether - 23 in 1827, 76 in 1828, and 69 in 1829 (to 23rd September); the book was long in the possession of Walker's successors in business, Messrs. Hardcastle & Sons, and afterwards in that of their successor, Mr. J. W. Price; acquired in 1927, by Messrs. Bryant & May, together with nos. 1444a-1444c.