SCOTLAND / SCOTS A-C   •   D-F   •   G-N   •   O-Z

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A Rather EXTENDED Chapbook!
   [AnotherGhost, Here, Too]

•  Religious conversation with a ghost, whose requests for reparation to those he wronged in life are declined by Mr. Ogilvie. The title-page woodcut vignette shows Mercury with winged staff, helmet and sandals, with “[No.] 48” printed at the foot of the title.

•  This ed. not in NSTC. Removed from a nonce volume. Title-page with upper margin trimmed a bit closely, just touching “The” of title. Pages slightly age-toned, otherwise clean. (16780)

BetterRoads & Bridges

•  Detailed plan, including tables, for improving the quality and financing of the Scottish transportation system: First published in 1845, this is the third of three editions.

Rare: We trace no U.S. copies of this edition via NUC Pre-1956, OCLC, or RLIN.

•  NSTC 2P809, Imprint 3; this edition not in Goldsmith’s-Kress. Recent speckled brown wrappers. Some shallow chipping. Closely trimmed by binder, shaving a few signatures and borders of tables. Inked numeral in margin of title-page.

Scots Periodical

•  No. XIX from the series, being "An account of a combat between the Macphersons and the Davidsons. By Sir James Foulis of Colinton, Baronet." The engraved frontispiece is a portrait of Robert Tannahill, "the sweet Bard o'Gleniffer."

•  NSTC 2P1497 (for nos. 8–14). Removed from a nonce volume. Frontispiece slightly age-toned; pages clean. (17481)

Sleeping Beauty & a Bear to Boot

•  Title woodcut vignette of a girl holding a bird in a cage out of reach of a cat, & a tail-piece. A version of Perrault's "La belle au bois dormant". The story is followed by "The Moral" in verse and by the story of "Paddy and the Bear", pp. 21-24. Very scarce edition. We were unable to locate another copy. No. "52" at foot of title.

•  Very good. Original self wrappers (unbound; removed). (17581)

“Carry Off theCry & Clamour  
   ofTHIS TROUBLESOME WOMAN”

(Pollock vs. the Thane of Cawdor).

•  The battle between Ruth Pollock and the Campbells (or Calders, from their estate of Cawdor) rages on, with the Calder side strenuously denying that any legitimate marriage ever took place between her and Capt. George Campbell. Pollock, who called herself Campbell’s widow despite apparently never having been acknowledged as his wife during his lifetime, was claiming a portion of the estate of his father, Sir Hugh Campbell; in this response to some of her petitions, lawyer John Fleming, acting on behalf of the Campbells, discusses the merits of various claims as pertaining to estate law. OCLC, ESTC, and NUC Pre-1956 record no holdings of this item.

•  Not in ESTC. Once sewn, now in a Mylar folder. Last leaf with closed tear partially repaired some time ago, costing or or obscuring a few letters to each line of about two paragraphs on either side of leaf. Age-toned, dust-soiled, creased.

It Says SHE LIES . . .

•  Dated July 30 1718, this broadside is a rebuttal of certain financial assertions made by Ruth Pollock in her ongoing legal battle against John Campbell over the estate of Sir Hugh Campbell, which included Cawdor Castle (although that legendary castle is not mentioned in this document). This is an uncommon legal item, with no holdings described by OCLC, RLIN, or ESTC.

•  Not in ESTC. Creased and dust-soiled, with a small hole in lower margin not touching text and a few pinholes within text. Tipped onto a leaf of 19th-century paper, now in a Mylar folder.

In Multiple Fonts — OneBlack-Letter

(Pollock vs. the Thane of Cawdor [Again]).

•  Dated February 5th 1718, this broadside was part of a protracted legal struggle between Ruth Pollock and John Campbell, grandson of Sir Hugh Campbell, thane of Cawdor. Particularly in question here are the marriage articles between Sir Alexander Campbell and Elizabeth Lort, John Campbell’s parents; the definition of impeachment of waste is discussed. No holdings of this uncommon item are listed by ESTC, RLIN, OCLC.

•  Creased and slightly dust-soiled but in overall good condition. Tipped onto a leaf of 19th-century paper; now in a Mylar folder.

A “Collection Discount” will be applied should anyone take ALL THREE of the “Pollack Case” Broadsides.

Religion Laws & Liberty

Click the image for an enlargement.

•  Statements regarding the position of William III of England on Scottish “Religion, Laws and Liberties,” affirming his defense of the Presbyterian government of the Church of Scotland. In their speeches, both the Duke of Queensberry and the Earl of Marchmont urge acquiescence to the king’s desire that troops be raised and supplied as a response to “the Warlike Preparations which are made both for Land and Sea, by other Neighbouring Princes and States,” as Lord Polwarth puts it.

There is at least one other variant of the first piece, also printed in 1700, “For A.H.” according to its colophon. It seems likely that the two speeches were in the present case issued together — the paper and type match, and the second speech is paginated “(2)” — although these examples were later separated and existing cataloguing records are inconsistent regarding the number of leaves that should be present. Sets of the two pieces together are scarce.

•  ESTC R182313 / R33479; Goldsmiths’-Kress 03732; Wing Q160. Removed from a nonce volume, now in a Mylar folder. Leaves darkened and creased, both lower margins irregularly torn with loss of approximately 20 words. First speech with nick affecting two letters of the title.

“I Sing the PLAID & Sing with All My Skill”

•  Substantial collection of the works of a popular Scottish poet (1686–1758). Almost everything here is either composed in Scots dialect or Scottish-themed, including an odd but charming ode to the plaid, which Ramsay finds especially admirable when it serves to adorn belles; one elegy mourns the loss of a Canongate alehouse-keeper. Ramsay's pastoral play "The Gentle Shepherd" is included, and there is a glossary at the back of the volume which defines potentially unfamiliar words such as meikle and shawps.

•  ESTC T147963. Contemporary sprinkled calf, spine with gilt-stamped leather title label and gilt-stamped floral devices in compartments, overall somewhat worn. Small inked ownership inscription to top of title-page. Some foxing, not severe; last leaves dog-eared. One text leaf torn out, as also one preliminary leaf; despite the internal absence of publication information, the collation of this volume matches that given by ESTC.

For Books for the BUSTED
            BIBLIOPHILE,  click here.

A HeroicSCOTS AMERICAN

St. Andrew's and Thistle Societies

•  Mercer was a Scotsman; forced into exile by his participation in the rising of 1741, he emigrated to America, where he served with distinction in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, falling in battle at Princeton on January 3rd, 1777 in an action in which he threw his brigade against the British in order to save the rest of Washington's army.

•  Good. Removed from a nonce volume; without wrappers. Some foxing and offsetting to the title-page. (1873)

Scots Antiquarianism — ILLUSTRATED

Click the images for enlargements.

•  During the heyday of attempts to find the origins of Great Britain's literature, Ritson collected and published anthologies of nursery rhymes, Robin Hoodiana, English songs and ballads, and English and Scottish poems. Shortly before the present work was supposed to be published in 1785, a fire destroyed part of the printer's warehouse and the manuscript of Ritson's introductory essay; the surviving sheets, printed in octavo with horizontal chain lines, make their first appearance here with a new introduction. The poems are illustrated with vignettes engraved by Heath after Stothard's designs, and with small woodcuts by Bewick. The frontispiece is an engraved silhouette portrait of Ritson.

•  NSTC 2R11677; Lowndes 2099; Hugo, The Bewick Collector, 434.   Contemporary half dark green morocco with red marbled paper sides, spine with gilt-stamped title; some rubbing and with a bit of green discoloration to paper of front cover. Minor offsetting to frontispiece and title-page; mild to moderate foxing in first third of volume and to last few pages.  (21934)

No“Tacks” on Bibles . . .

Scotland.

•  Scarce petition, written by “the Tacks-men of the Paper-Manufactorie,” arguing against a proposal to tax imported paper and foreign Bibles, Psalm books, and “Practical Pieces of Divinity.” Click the image for an enlargement.

•  Not in ESTC; not found either via OCLC or NUC. Removed from a nonce volume. Reverse with early inked inscription. Tattered, with lower quarter lost, as well as several words along the chipped and repaired inner margin. An incomplete survivor, but scarce and still of interest.

“Minuts” — TheAfrican & Indian Company

Scotland.

•  Number 78 (of 89) of the 1706–07 minutes, this is a brief account of a committee report “anent the Accompts”of a Scottish company trading to Africa and the Indies, authorized for printing by Andrew Anderson by decree of Sir James Murray, Lord Clerk Register. Many of the Parliamentary documents printed by Anderson and heirs display the same misspelling of minutes as seen in the header of this example.

•  ESTC T78547 (for holdings of complete sets). Tipped onto a leaf of 19th-century paper; now in a Mylar folder. Lower margin and bottom of outer margin slightly tattered to a curve; otherwise relatively minor creasing, soiling.

“Prayers Said, The Rolls Called, The MINUTS . . . Read”

•  Number 57 (of 63) of the minutes from this session of Parliament, mentioning petitions by Sir Alexander Dalmahoy, Sir George Hume, the heritors of the shires of Inverness and Ross, and Sir William Dowglas, as well as a draft of an act for a "Manufactory of Lame, Purslame and Earthen Ware." Many of the items produced by the Anderson press bear the misspelling seen in this broadside's header.

•  ESTC T78734 (for holdings of all 63 parts). Tears with slight loss of paper (not touching text) to inner and outer margins; moderate creasing and dustsoiling. Now in a Mylar folder.

Voting onUNION with England

Scotland.

•  Number 15 of the 1706–07 minutes of the Scottish Parliament. Although a number of protesters are herein recorded as arguing that “This Nation seems generally averse” to the terms of union proposed by England, and the Duke of Athol (backed by a number of supporters, whose names are given) claimed that uniting Scotland and England would be contrary to the Claim of Right and therefore high treason, these minutes close with a “yea” vote in favor of the First Article of Union.

Many of the items produced by the Anderson press bear the misspelling seen in the header here.

•  ESTC P2750 (for complete sets of 1706–07 minutes). Tipped onto a leaf of 19th-century paper; now in a Mylar folder. Waterstained and creased, with uncut edges slightly ragged.

IVANHOE

•  First edition of the second Limited Editions Club go-around for Ivanhoe: This version was illustrated in pen and dry-brush by Edward A. Wilson and hand-colored by Walter Fischer, printed by American Book-Stratford press, and bound by Russell-Rutter Co. in linen stamped in a crown and cross design. The present copy is no. 213 of 1500 printed, and is signed by Wilson at the colophon.

•  Bibliography of the Fine Books Published by the Limited Editions Club 1929–1985, 211. Bindings as above; printed spine labels a bit rubbed, otherwise clean and unworn in the original slipcase, with inner edges of slipcase showing minor wear only.

Collected — With a Life

•  Sir Walter Scott's collected poems, prefaced by a brief biography.

•  Very good; scattered small lightened spots to covers (a not unpleasing effect), spine extremities rubbed, with spine somewhat dulled. Pages with a very few spots of foxing. All edges gilt. (1906)

Phrenology . . . Scott, William. The Harmony of Phrenology with Scripture.  Edinburgh: Fraser & Co., et al., 1836. 12mo. xxiii, 332 pp.
$100.00

•  First edition. Scott was a practicing and successful phrenologist inEdinburgh and past president of the Phrenological Society. He here dissects Combe's "Constitution of Man."

•  Contemporary sheep, rebacked; leather gone to red. Ex-library with bookplate and charge pocket but no stamps. From one of the libraries founded by Ben Franklin. A decent copy. (1713)

Och Hey!

•  Uncommon songster. The title-page lists: “The Bridal Ring. / What Are You Going to Stand. / The Lassies of Scotland. / The MacGregor's Gathering / Farewell to the Mountain / The Banks of the Blue Mozelle. / 'Twas Merry in the Hall.” A woodcut title-page vignette shows a young woman in a bonnet carrying two pails slung from a hoop around her knees, with [no.] “45" at the foot of the title.

•  Not in NSTC.   Removed from a nonce volume. Small spot of faint staining to two leaves, otherwise clean and fresh. (16822)

Sentimental Scots Songs

•  Very uncommon. The title-page lists: "Jock o' Hazeldean. / This Is No My Ain Lassie. / Logan Water. / Banks of Allan Water. / Somebody. / They're A' Teasing Me. / To All You Ladies," above a woodcut vignette of a young woman with a basket hung on each arm and holding a birdcage on her head, with "[No.] 69" printed at the foot.

•  Not in NSTC. Removed from a nonce volume. Upper corners nicked; pages slightly age-toned but otherwise clean. (16761)

TheLovat Vassals Protest

(Simon “The Fox” Fraser).

•  The tenants of the Lovat estate petition for a delay in producing the writs and securities of their holdings, as the protracted dispute between the Lovat family and the infamous Capt. Simon Fraser of Beaufort (who attempted a forced marriage to the family’s heiress, young Amelia Fraser, before successfully kidnapping and wedding her mother, the dowager Lady Amelia Murray) has left them in a sorry state regarding the payment of creditors. Not only does this broadside touch on the common perspective of a great contemporary scandal, but it is of interest for its scarcity as well. No holdings are listed by OCLC, RLIN, ESTC, or NUC Pre-1956.

•  Not in ESTC. On Fraser, see: Dictionary of National Biography, XX, 216–22. Excellent clean condition, with two small sewing holes at inner margin, one very small spot of foxing, and ink traces from printing process to outer edge. Tipped onto a leaf of 19th-century paper; now in a Mylar folder.

Jenny Vow'd away to Run / WithJockey to the Fair . . .

•  Uncommon chapbook printing of lyrics (only) to popular songs. The title-page gives: Jockey to the Fair. / Wha's at the Window? Wha? / Fairest of the Fair. / The Flower o' Dumblane. / The Maid of Arundel. / Farewell, Farewell; it also bears a woodcut vignette of a young woman leaning against a gate and "[No.] 34" printed at the foot.

•  NSTC 2S31173. Removed from a nonce volume. Pages clean. (16755)

BALLADS

•  Uncommon Scots ballads. The title-page gives this listing: “Bonaparte's Lament in His Exile. Green Grows the Rashes, O. Marry for Love, and Work for Siller. Lovely Arran Maid. O'er the Muir Amang the Heather. Maclean's Welcome,” with a woodcut vignette of a seated man in kilt & bonnet, playing the bagpipes and “[No.] 52" printed at the foot. “Maclean's Welcome” is addressed to “Charlie” (Bonny Prince Charlie).

•  Not in NSTC.   Removed from a nonce volume. Very good. (16769)

For CHAPBOOKS,  click here.

ASwede in South Africa — Scottish Edition

•  Rare first Scottish edition of this travelogue, written by a Swedish naturalist and pupil of Linnaeus. Sparrman traveled to the Cape ostensibly to tutor children, with his real goal being "to investigate the Works of Nature in this remote corner of the globe," as the preface puts it. In this journal of his travels he provides a wealth of sociological and naturalistic observations, and takes special pains to debunk previously supplied tales that he considers incorrect. An appendix of examples of Hottentot and Caffre language is also supplied.
The engraved plates include illustrations of a rhinoceros, a hippopotamus, dwarf mice, and Hottentot weaponry, as well as an oversized folding landscape and a map of the territory covered by the author.

•  ESTC T131019. Recently rebound in quarter calf over marbled paper sides, spines with gilt-stamped title labels. Title-page and two others of vol. I stamped by a now-defunct institution; one page with outer margin reinforced. Small hole to map. Title-page of vol. II with topmost left portion of title repaired and replaced in facsimile; title-page and five others stamped. Pagination skips in vol. II from 136 to 139. A few minor spots of foxing to plates; one plate with short edge tear carefully repaired.

Around the World with aLITTLE TRAVELLER

Click any interior image for an enlargement.

•  Scarce early American edition of this children's toy book, originally published in London with the subtitle “A sketch of the various nations of the world representing the costumes, and describing the manners and peculiarities of the inhabitants.” This edition, which appears to be complete according to the publisher's intentions despite the pagination, omits the Otaheitians and Sandwich Islanders featured by the London and Baltimore printings; it is illustrated with12 hand-colored wood engravings of Laplanders, Highlanders, Greeks, Persians, Chinese, American Indians, etc., with the first engraving signed “HB” and the rest unattributed. The section on “Negroes” notes the “cruel” and “disgraceful” nature of slave trade; the one on the Scots notes they do love their bag-pipes; we hear that the Persians “exercise great hospitality to strangers.”

Uncommon. OCLC and NUC Pre-1956 find no holdings of this Philadelphia imprint.

Provenance: Pencilled ownership note, “Miss Emily Larned.”

•  Rosenbach, Early American Children's Books, 680 (for first Baltimore ed. only); not in American Imprints.   Publisher's printed blue paper wrappers, showing minimal wear to corners and spine extremities, faint spotting to front wrapper, overall in excellent clean condition. Front inside wrapper with early pencilled ownership inscription. Pages clean save for light offsetting towards back of book.  (24580)

A Lot of“STORYS” for the Money!

•  Title woodcut vignette of a man leading a prancing black horse by the reins. Also with decorative woodcut border & woodcut tail-piece on p. 12 of a tiger stalking through the underbrush. In the first tale [12 pages] a fiddler becomes lost in the forest and finds his way into a enchanted castle. He wakes up at the foot of a gibbet with a strange violin which turns out to be made of a dead man's bone embossed in silver. Engraved on it is the name of a much-feared local magician. With some trepidation he returns the violin to its owner and in return is given a bottomless purse of money. His four nephews, envying his new-found wealth, murder him for his money. The second story [6 pages] is a vividly dramatic account of the narrow escape of sailors whose ship is set on fire by lightning. John Hetherington, a tailor who cannot resist clipping small pieces out of each piece of cloth his customers bring him, falls asleep after a meal of Welsh rabbit [toasted cheese]. He dreams he has died and is met by the Devil, who unrolls a long patchwork scroll of all the pieces he has stolen. This cures him of the practice of "cabbaging". The final page of the chapbook contains an anecdote about soldiers from an American regiment making fun of a hunchback who gets back at them with a dig about Bunker Hill where the regiment suffered heavy losses. "[No.] 28." printed at the foot of the title.

•  Not located in RLIN. Very good. Original self wrappers (unbound; removed). (17584)

Scottish Church Divided

Click any image for an enlargement.

•  From about 1820 through 1843 the Church of Scotland was in turmoil over the question of lay patronage and its implications regarding civil authority over the church; in 1843, after the “Ten Years’ Conflict” between the evangelical and moderate branches of the church, the issues were temporarily resolved by “the Disruption,” in which close to a third of the ministers of the Church of Scotland separated to form the Free Church of Scotland. The upheaval prompted the publication of numerous pamphlets and treatises on the controversy, and its effects continued to be felt in Scotland for many years afterward.

The collection contains works by many of the principal voices of the conflict. The vast majority of the publications are from ca. 1840.

A good research collection. 

•  All items are in good to very good condition, disbound, a few with library markings (stamps) but a few only. The strange glossy effect in our “group photo” is the pamphlets' archival mylar folders, reflecting light — nothing worse, and nothing stranger!

Murders TWA'

•  Uncommon printing of two Scots ballads. The title-page bears a woodcut vignette of two ruffians, one with a dagger in his hand, apparently robbing a gentleman of his money; "[No.] 79" is printed at the foot of the title.

•  NSTC 2J7717. Removed from a nonce volume. Upper inner corner of last leaf nicked. (16783)

“We Could NotHope for Any Thing More Glorious”

Edinburgh

•  Following English successes at the battles of Turin and Ramillies, members of the House of Commons and House of Lords send their congratulations to Queen Anne, and encourage her efforts to unify England and Scotland. The Scottish Parliament had begun debate on the Treaty of Union just a few months prior to the December 1706 issue of this item, and would agree to it one month afterwards.

•  ESTC T36741. Now in a Mylar folder; edges uncut. Some creasing, with ink markings from press.

Church of ScotlandControversy

Willison, John.

• First American edition, preceded by two scarce Edinburgh and Glasgow issues (in 1744 and 1765, respectively), of this impassioned anti-Episcopalian commentary on the contemporary state of Scottish Protestantism, written by an evangelical divine who labored mightily in the name of unity of the Church of Scotland. The work serves as an important source of information on both civil and church history of the period; this copy is also an example of a very early Pittsburgh imprint, following the first recorded printing in that city by only two years.

• Shaw & Shoemaker 16746. Contemporary treed sheep, worn and front cover with incisions; both covers with water damage to lower edges, spine with head chipped and gilt-stamped title somewhat rubbed. Front free endpaper with early inked notations and inscription dated 1819; title-page with early inked ownership inscription in upper margin. Some age-toning, occasional spots, last few leaves with waterstaining to lower outer corners—solid, and in much better condition inside than the binding description would augur.

“Occasional Jangles . . . Not Sufficient to Break
the Solemn Ty of Marriage” 

•  Younger (by way of his attorney, James Graham) here argues against points made in the divorce proceedings between his wife Anna Carnagie and himself. In response to allegations that he called his wife names, forced her to live penuriously in his parents’ house, and beat her, Younger provides explanations for the latter two charges, noting that even if he did insult her, the incidents in question took place over a year before she left him, during which year they had been living on good terms. (There is considerable He said, She said, and The neighbors said, detail.) Also extensively canvassed in this document is the vexing issue of whether or not Younger is obliged to pay the debts contracted by both parties before and since the marriage. No holdings of this item are recorded by ESTC, OCLC, or NUC Pre-1956.

•  Now in a Mylar folder. Last leaf pressure-stamped by a now-defunct institution; light age-toning, with outer margin of first page darkened. One spot of pinhole worming to all four leaves.

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