Hi, thanks for your comment, it IS nice to know someone reads it.

I agree it is a common commercial con trick, but the description I have quoted is from a book that says it was published in 1909 which surely does provide ONE hundred years of history (?) if not the three to four hundred I am hoping for.

However, we do have a copy of "the ancient history of the distinguished surname Rowse" bought by an aspiring elderly relative - and I dare not contemplate what he paid for such a piece of tripe!! Perhaps I should write a journal about that too?
:o)