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Dear Friend,
We’re at Edinburgh Book Fair this week which explains this Scottish-flavoured list, including the papers of Scotland’s 7th Nobel Laureate, Alexander Todd. A few outliers leaven the mix, notably a lovely 18th century Antiphonary packed with handwritten plainchant.
Should you be in Scotland we'll be delighted to see you at the Radisson Blu Hotel on the Royal Mile this Friday and Saturday, 24th and 25th March.
Best wishes,
Christian
RENTAL OF THE LANDS OF DUNLOP - 18th Century Manuscript from Ayrshire — John Dunlop — 1750
18th century manuscript record of land rentals on the Dunlop family estates in East Ayrshire. Slim vellum-bound notebook with wallet-style binding and external straps. Later gilt lettering on spine suggesting a strong motivation to preserve the manuscript. Laid paper with horizontal chainlines; 20 pages of manuscript headed pages, beginning ‘Rental of the Lands of Dunlop. Inya[?] and the parke of Dunlop payes 10£ 3s 0d’; other named individuals include John Hark who ‘getts allowance of one halfp…… Read more
18th CENTURY PLAINCHANT MANUSCRIPT - Antiphonarium Ad Usum Parochiarum Dioecesis Trecensis Accomodatum — Unknown Musician — 1766
Manuscript Antiphonary containing beautifully written liturgical chants for use during winter months in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Troyes in Northern France. Octavo sized manuscript (13x19cm) bound in contemporary full calf with faded gilt decoration to the spine and a pleasingly vernacular repair long since effected by a wraparound piece of leather glued over the lower part of the spine (see final image). All edges red. Marbled endpapers; then vertical chainlines to paper stock indicating oc…… Read more
A TASTE OF THE HIGH-LIFE IN 1790S SCOTLAND BY THE ‘LAST MAN WHO KNEW EVERYTHING’ — Thomas Young — 1795
[RESERVED] Long, provocative letter to a fellow Edinburgh University student by the brilliant scientist and polymath Thomas Young about his decision to abandon his Quaker principles for play-going, ‘Scotch music’, dancing in St Andrews and the company of ‘beautiful and accomplished’ women. Quarto-sized bifolium with conjugate address leaf to ‘John Bostock Esq. Rev. Mr Yates, Toxteth Park, Liverpool’ with postal stamp ‘St Andrews’; 2 holes to the second leaf where the letter was opened with conse…… Read more
GEORGE IV’S 1822 VISIT TO SCOTLAND - William Hunter Jun.r Messenger in Ordinary to His Majesty — William Hunter, Junior — 1795
[RESERVED] Personal itinerary of the first trip to Scotland made by a British monarch in nearly 2 centuries, from a secret British government messenger travelling with George IV and the Home Secretary, Robert Peel. Small quarto (16.5x20.5cm) covering the quarter century 1795-1822 bound in vellum over boards with the single word ‘Home’ - for Home Office - on a decorative red morocco label to the upper cover. The manuscript uses Britannia water-marked paper, ruled with red margins. The first page…… Read more
SPIRITUAL COMMONPLACE BOOK BY A SCOTTISH CONGREGATIONALIST - AND SHAKESPEARE FAN — [Ralph Wardlaw] — 1812
[RESERVED] Vastly ambitious spiritual commonplace book by a Scottish Congregationalist, Shakespeare fan, and cousin of the Glaswegian Presbyterian preacher Ralph Wardlaw. Octavo sized volume, rebacked in half calf over green paper covered boards; paper lining to inner hinges. 2 blanks precede a 10 page list of Contents; 12 blanks then 322 pages of manuscript text on red ruled pages; ‘G Wilmott 1811’ watermarked paper. The writer uses a miniscule handwriting, about 500 words per page totalling c1…… Read more
FLORA MACDONALD’S SCRAP-BOOK - Highlands Scottish Verse Miscellany — Flora Macdonald — 1828
Manuscript Scottish verse miscellany written on Skye and in the Highlands in the 1830s by Flora Macdonald, her family and friends, Flora being the namesake and probable descendant of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s famous helpmate. Full maroon morocco quarto-sized binding with attractive gilt decoration and, inset on both covers: ‘Flora Macdonald’s Scrap-book’. The book has had high quality professional repairs with the spine relaid, corners strengthened and inner hinges renewed. Marbled endpapers, pape…… Read more
A POET’S BOOKS - ANNOTATED GLASWEGIAN AUCTION SALE CATALOGUE - Mr Motherwell’s Library.. — Wiliam Motherwell [J L Weir] — 1836
Interleaved auction catalogue annotated by a former Keeper of Manuscripts at Glasgow University, with the poet’s signature tipped in. Smart modern blue buckram binding; bookplate of the antiquary Adam Sim Coulter (1829-1887) to the first paste-down with ‘Ex libris J L Weir’ above. Weir, whose binding this seems certain to be, has interleaved the 50 page auction catalogue with blank leaves which he has annotated throughout. A printed obituary of Motherwell precedes Weir’s prefatory remarks: ‘An e…… Read more
SCOTTISH DIASPORA - Scots’ Church, London Wall - Pew Pass — Adam Scott — 1841
Pew pass bought by a wealthy Scottish family living in London in the 1840s - adorned on the verso with the seal of a 17th century Scottish Bishop and Principal of Edinburgh University. Toned card (9x6cm) printed and then accomplished and signed in manuscript by a church official, Adam Scott, for ‘Mrs Sangsters Servant’ for 6 months tenure of No 10, North Gallery at the significant cost of ‘£9/=’. Overleaf is the seal of Robert Leighton (1611-1684) as Bishop of Dunblane though he went on to be Bi…… Read more
A NARRATIVE OF THE ADVENTURES AND ESCAPE OF MOSES ROPER FROM AMERICAN SLAVERY — Moses Roper — 1842
Very scarce fourth edition of this harrowing escaped slave narrative illustrated with a handsome frontispiece portrait of Roper and horrifying woodcuts in the text. Coarse brown cloth over boards with an ink stain to the lower outer corner of the boards that also affects the corner of the text. The book collates [vii]-xii, pp 120; light soiling to the title page; text showing a few light marks. OCLC locates 3 copies in the USA and one in the UK at Liverpool. Moses Roper (1815–1891) was an Africa…… Read more
MANUSCRIPT DIARIES OF THOMAS MONTGOMERY OF STOBO including a Tour of Egypt, Palestine and the Lebanon — Thomas Henry Montgomery, of Stobo — 1848
Five Volumes of the diaries of Thomas Henry Montgomery of Stobo in the Scottish Borders, including a Middle Eastern tour. The future Captain Thomas Henry Montgomery of Stobo’s used 5 bound volumes of Punch’s Pocket Book to keep his diary over 15 years: 1848-49-50; 1851-52-53; 1854-55-56; 1857-58-59; 1860-61-62. All volumes are fat little octavos; 1848-49-50 rebound in full calf, the others with original half roan over marbled boards and indistinct labels to spines. The Volume for 1860-61-62 is m…… Read more
‘THE FIRST WOMAN IN SCOTLAND TO RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF ARTS’ - Edinburgh Carmichael Family Archive — Charlotte Carmichael; James Ferrier Carmichael; Marie Stopes — 1850
Portraits in childhood of the Edinburgh-born women’s rights campaigner and future author of British Freewomen: Their Historical Privilege, Charlotte Carmichael, by her father, the landscape artist James Ferrier Carmichael and by herself. Charlotte Carmichael (1840-1929) was part of the first university level classes for women in Edinburgh under Professor David Masson at a time when the university was not open to women. She was active in dress reform for women, published widely and contributed to…… Read more
THE DEFINITIVE STATEMENT OF 'MAXWELL-STEFAN DIFFUSION', OFFPRINT UNRECORDED — James Clerk Maxwell — 1875
Exceptionally scarce offprint of which there are apparently no other copies recorded - neither in Scotland or at the Maxwell Archives in Cambridge. Maxwell's text which appeared in the 9th edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, vol. 7, pp. 214-221, is printed alone but with column placement intact, creating a striking visual effect; large quarto, [pp] 8. Unusually for an encyclopaedia entry (but somehow typical of Maxwell) this article contains significant and previously unpublished scientific…… Read more
RARE EDINBURGH 20th CENTURY LATIN IMPRINT Nugae Rythmicae Magnisclopianae ad Majorem Nostrorum Hilaritatem — Robertus Rupestris Magnisclopis [pseudonym] Robert Craig MacLagan; David Maclagan; Andrew Douglas Maclagan, Sir.; Thomas Thomson Maclagan; Robert Craig Maclagan; — 1901
Collection of comic skits inscribed by the author ‘Gracie Critchley from RCM January 1902" with a short poem written below. Very good in green cloth with gilt titles, all edges gilt, brown coated end papers. The boards are rubbed to the edges and spine. The text is crisp and fresh. Copies at Dundee and NLS only.
AUTHOR’S ANNOTATED COPY - Peter Buchan Printer and Ballad Collector — John A Fairley — 1902
John Fairley’s interleaved and heavily annotated copy of his bibliography with substantial manuscript additions to the printed text. Handsomely bound for the author in half crushed green morocco over marbled boards with gilt spine lettering. Fairley’s Celtic-style bookplate to the front pastedown and his ownership signature opposite. Original card wrappers bound in; this is 1 of 50 copies with a window mounted frontispiece and interleaved text. Fairley’s manuscript additions include ownership de…… Read more
GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART - The Vista — H L Honeyman; James R Adamson; T C Campbell Mackie; Francis Henry Newbury; David Robertson; Alex J Scott etc — 1908
A contributor’s copy of this rare periodical published by Glasgow School of Art at the peak of its influence and success, which contains analysis of its iconic home designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Olive cloth binding with gilt spine lettering and speckled red edges. Title page with finely executed vignette by Thomas Callendar Campbell-Mackie (later Head of School of Design at Glasgow School of Art) First 4 issues through-paginated to page 114; then Vol 5, pp40; Vol 6, pp36; Vol 7 pp40; Vo…… Read more
CELEBRATORY EDINBURGH DINNER FOR THE NEWLY ELECTED MP FOR PERTH — Frederick Whyte; A F Giles — 1910
An inscribed supper menu celebrating the election of Frederick Whyte as MP for Perth, a seat he held from 1910-1918, serving as Winston Churchill's Parliamentary Private Secretary. From the estate of Whyte's friend A F Giles (and Edinburgh University contemporary) his 1910 dinner was held at the Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh on 2nd February 1910 to celebrate Whyte's election as a Liberal MP in the previous month. Complete with a portrait roundel, Giles is slated to give the last of three support…… Read more
RAMORNIE HOUSE, FIFE - DIARY TURNED COMMONPLACE BOOK — Douglas Haig’s FAMILY — 1910
[RESERVED] Pre-printed diary used interestingly by a member of Earl Haig’s family as a commonplace/ day book. Chunky small quarto bound in full calf, splitting slighly at outer hinges but very robust still. Laid in is a selection of quotations from Carlyle written on ‘Ramornie Ladybank’ headed paper. Marbled endpapers. Preceding the diary pages are two albumen photographs of Ramornie in its late 19th century pomp. At the end of the MS an interior photo showing two women, the older who might be D…… Read more
ANNOTATED WITH A VIEW TO A REPRINT Plants of the Lothians (Edinburgh, Haddington, and Linlithgow) — R Cockburn Millar; Allan A Pinkerton — 1921
Corrected and emended copy, apparently with a view to reprinting in an improved version. Green wrappers marked and stained; later ex libris of David W H Walton to the flyleaf. The corrections begin on the verso of the title page and continue throughout the 24 page printed text. A heavy ink stain at the tail of the page runs right through. The corrections relate to the book’s substance, typography and format. It’s not known who wrote them but a member of the Edinburgh Field Naturalists’ and Micro…… Read more
SCOTLAND’S 7TH NOBEL PRIZE WINNER - Nobel Prize Lecture & Personal Papers — Sir Alexander Todd — 1927
Alexander Todd’s personal archive including school prizes from Glasgow schooldays, his Nobel Prize lecture and dozens of retained copies of his papers and speeches. Alexander R Todd (1907-1997) was awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the synthesis of nucleotides - the groundwork for Watson and Crick’s elucidation of DNA. Born in Cathcart, outer Glasgow, he went to Allen Glen’s School, Glasgow University before taking Ph.D.s in Germany and at Cambridge University where he wa…… Read more
J M BARRIE’S COPY Joseph and his Brethren: The Tales of Jacob — Thomas Mann — 1934
Mann’s novel owned by the Scottish novelist and creator of Peter Pan, J M Barrie, with his book label to the front pastedown. Textured yellow cloth, a very good copy with an additional ownership inscription from after the dispersal of Barrie’s library when the book belonged to ‘R J R Hall ‘38’ to the first flyleaf. Final flap of flyleaf laid in. Books from Barrie’s library are uncommon. A voracious reader as a boy, Barrie was born and educated in Kirriemuir in Scotland before moving to London.
LETTER & TRANSLATION FROM EDINBURGH PROFESSOR & NOBEL PRIZE WINNING QUANTUM PHYSICIST — Max Born [Edward Neville da Costa Andrade - Wilhelm Busch] — 1938
A Nobel prize-winning physicist and Edinburgh University Professor presents his latest English translation to a fellow physicist. Born’s typed letter was sent from Bad Pyrmont in west Germany where he had retired after leaving his Edinburgh professorship in 1953. Writing to Professor Edward Neville da Costa Andrade in London, he says that ‘I have again translated one of Wilhelm Busch’s funny poems.... As I know you like this kind of thing I send you enclosed a copy...’ Born has signed the letter…… Read more
ONE OF ‘THE FEW’, LOST OFF ABERDEEN Spitfire Pilot — David M Crooks [SIGNED] — 1942
First edition of David M Crook's autobiographical account of his role as a Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain, signed during the brief interval between the book’s publication in 1942 and his death, when his spitfire plunged into the sea off Aberdeen in December 1944. Near fine book in near very good jacket, signed beneath the portrait frontispiece. As one of the 'few' Crook recorded six kills and was one of nine 'aces' in 609 West Riding Squadron during the Battle of Britain. He died in 194…… Read more
Dr. Christian White
Christian White Rare Books
287 Leeds Road, Ilkley, LS29 8LL
07811 455398
info@christianwhiterarebooks.com
www.christianwhiterarebooks.com
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