Roberts, Frederick Sleigh, Lord Roberts of Kandahar (1832-1914). Autograph Letter Signed, 18 February 1896. E 2009.12
Field Marshal Roberts was one of the great military figures in the British Empire of the late Victorian period, who did heroic service in the Indian Mutiny and achieved victories in the imperial wars in Afghanistan and South Africa. At the height of his fame, he was asked to stand as the Liberal Unionist candidate for the Lord Rectorship of Edinburgh University. In this letter he declines the offer on the grounds that it would not be suitable for a high-ranking officer like him to engage in an electoral contest.
Good, William. The Measurer’s and Tradesman’s Assistant. Edinburgh: Printed for William Creech, 1788. RB.S.221
This guide for Edinburgh tradesmen gives a valuable insight into trade practices and prices in the city in the 18th century. This is an excellent copy of the reissue of this important Edinburgh-related work, first published in 1775. It gives guidelines for measurements in Scotland and particularly in Edinburgh, including details of “ordinary prices of masons, wrights, glasiers, slaters, and painters work”. This copy was used by one George Murdoch in the early 19th century, who has included five pages of manuscript annotations.
Thomas Campbell, autograph letter signed, 22 February 1834. E 2009.18
The poet Thomas Campbell (1777-1844) had achieved much social and academic recognition by 1834, and had been Rector of Glasgow University. However, it had not been known that he sought the chair of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres at Edinburgh University, which ambition is revealed in this letter to Francis Jeffrey, the Lord Advocate. Campbell writes that he is thinking about competing for this position, and asks for Jeffrey’s support. The establishment of the chair of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres at Edinburgh, created for Hugh Blair in 1762, is often seen as marking the start of the formal teaching of English Literature as an academic discipline at university level.
Brown, George Mackay. The girl from the sea: a play for voices. Llandogo: Old Stile Press, 2009. RB.F.49
This unpublished drama by the Orkney poet George Mackay Brown is an important addition to our collections of his books and papers. The book is printed by the Old Stile Press in an edition of 195 copies, of which this is copy 24. It is illustrated with wood and lino cuts by the American artist Michael Onken. The paper is Vélin Arches, the type is Albertina and the binding is by The Fine Book Bindery, Wellingborough. It is an excellent example of modern book craftsmanship.
Jeffrey, Francis, Lord Advocate (1773-1850). 3 autograph letters signed. E 2009.19
Jeffrey was educated at Edinburgh University and followed a career in the law while pursuing his literary interests. He was the first editor of the Edinburgh Review and friends with many writers of the day from Carlyle to Dickens. When the whigs came to power in 1830, he was appointed Lord Advocate. These three letters deal with legal matters, but also show how he missed Edinburgh when on business in London.
Francis Jeffrey. Autograph letter signed to William Henry Fitton. 2 December 1817. E 2009.21
Jeffrey worked closely with his contributors including Fitton (1780-1861), the geologist. In this letter he discusses Fitton’s work and also writing by another geologist, William Smith (1769-1839). This letter gives valuable insights into the workings of the influential Edinburgh periodical press.
Franklin, Benjamin. Essays; humorous, moral, and literary. London: Published by J. S. Pratt. 1850. RB.S.259
Franklin (1706-1790) is one of the great figures of the American revolution and an important writer and printer. His influence on the Scottish enlightenment was probably significant; in 1771 he visited Scotland and David Hume. This pocket edition of his essays was published in London, but printed in Stokesley in Yorkshire, according to the colophon. Of particular interest is the binder’s ticket inside the rear board, which states that it was bound by Mrs. C. Wilson of Kelso. The binding is half-leather with marbled paper, with gilt tooling on the spine; a very competent piece of provincial Scottish work. Mrs. Wilson is not recorded in the Scottish Book Trade Index.
Kelly, Ellinor J. Ewin Lloyd, or, How we all got on. London: [Robert K. Burt for] John Morgan [n.d.]. Bdg.s.5
This novel has been purchased for our bindings collection as an excellent example of a Scottish school prize binding. It was awarded by Edinburgh Collegiate School in 27-8 Charlotte Square to James Dalziel in 1877-8 for achieving various first and second class certificates. It is bound in full morocco with the arms of the school in gilt on the front board.
Morris, Henry. Bird & Bull Pepper Pot. North Hills, PA: Bird & Bull Press, 1977. RB.F.48
This is a most handsome example of American private press work, and has a nice associated story. Morris, the printer for the Bird & Bull press, produced this volume of anecdotes and reminiscences, particularly relating to printing. The volume includes examples of plates and samples of different paper. This is copy numbered 214 (out of 250). It was given by Morris to an Edinburgh graduate, Dr. Alistair Thomson (1913-1987), who wrote a PhD on the Scottish paper industry and who entertained Morris and his wife when they visited Scotland. This copy is inscribed to Thomson by Morris.
Scott, Paul Henderson. A twentieth century life. Glendaruel: Argyll Publishing, 2002. RB.P.85 £1
This is a nice uncorrected proof copy of an important autobiography by this leading Scottish writer.
Brown, Helen McInnes. Poems. Glasgow: Jackson, Son & Co., 1949. RB.S.279
Helen McInnes Brown is one of those Scottish poets who seems to have disappeared from the literary radar; even a Google search finds nothing for her. This volume of poetry, printed privately, indicates that she was a writer with a strong traditionalist and romantic bent – unlikely to find favour in the generation of MacDiarmid. This copy includes a manuscript letter by the author dated 5 March 1950.
[Butler’s book]. Manuscript, 1898. E 2009.22
This is a curious survival – a lined notebook has been turned into a compendium of recipes, medicines and preparations, with a hand-made thumb index at the start of the volume. The recipes include a mixture for bookbinder’s varnish and ingredients for constipation pills. The medical remedies are given dates in 1898, and they also give a useful reference to getting ‘Flower of Yarrow’ from Napier’s Dispensary on Bristo Place – suggesting that this was produced in Edinburgh. The book is not completed.
Nouveaux souvenirs d’Holy-Rood. Manuscript, 1831-2. E 2009.23
Henri V, the legitimist King of France from the abdication of Charles X in 1830 until his death in 1883, went into exile when Louis-Philippe was proclaimed king in August 1830. He established his court at Holyrood in Edinburgh, and a number of publications are associated with his time here. This is a curious collection of anonymous letters, apparently from a member of the refugee court, on a political theme. The provenance is unclear, but there is a loose note stating ‘Pour mes pauvres petites filles de France’ signed ‘Louise’ – hopefully further research will identify her.
[College riots in January 1838] RB.S.278
There were serious disturbances at Edinburgh in January 1838, which led to criminal cases against a number of students. This volume is a compilation of printed accounts, newspaper cuttings, broadsides and satires on the riots, with extensive manuscript notes and a number of illustrations. It comes from the library of the antiquarian James Maidment.
[Grant, Anne]. Letters from the mountains. 3 v. London: Longman, 1806. RB.S.260-262
This is a very handsome set of the published correspondence of Anne Grant (1755- 1838). Grant (née MacVicar) was born in Glasgow but grew up in pre-revolutionary America. When her family returned to Scotland, they moved to Fort Augustus where she met her husband John Grant. She maintained friendships with various literary figures including Scott and De Quincey. She wrote poetry and collected Gaelic folklore; her works are a valuable record of highland life. These volumes are in contemporary tree calf with gilt tooled spine compartments and red and green leather labels. There is a contemporary inscription ‘Anne Austen 1812’: a relation of Jane?
Burton, Robert. The anatomy of melancholy. Oxford: Printed for Henry Cripps, 1638. RB.S.258
Burton’s book, of which this is the last lifetime edition, is a landmark of English literature and early psychology. We have acquired this copy for its importance as a text and because it has some particularly interesting bibliographical features. In 1635 the Edinburgh printer Robert Young was working on an edition, but it was suppressed by Henry Cripps who held the copyright. However, he obviously reached an agreement with Young because many of the sheets up to p. 346 were printed in Edinburgh. Leaf 2L1, printed by Young, has a slit indicating that it was meant to be cancelled as it repeated text on the previous leaf, but this has not actually been done. To complicate matters further, the London printer Miles Flesher and the Oxford printers William Turner and Leonard Lichfield also had an involvement. There is a report on this publication in "Oxford Bib. Soc. Proceedings & Papers" I (1922-6), p. 194-7. More work could probably be done; e.g. there is something very odd going on at pages 140-143. We have kept this copy in its current semi-disbound state so it can be studied for evidence about its production.
Reed, Jeremy. Homage to David Gascoyne. Edinburgh: Tragara Press, 1990. RB.P.90
Edinburgh’s Tragara Press, operated by Alan Anderson at his home from 1954 until 2007, was one of the world’s longest running private presses, which produced some very fine work. Many of the Tragara publications were important contributions to modern poetry. This is a poem written for the 74th birthday of poet David Emery Gascoyne (1916–2001), written by Jeremy Reed and published by bookdealer Alan Clodd. The poems are set in 14-point Bembo and printed on Abbey Mills paper. This is copy 11 of 74 printed; it is a very nice copy in blue wrappers.
Baird, William. Some principles of arithmetique. Manuscript, ca. 1676 E 2009.29
This is an important addition to our collections of early modern Scottish manuscripts, particularly in the Laing Collection, and one which reflects Scotland’s long tradition of scientific study. The manuscript includes three parts, on mathematics, law and most interestingly on astronomy. The notes and the exlibris inscription suggest that this volume, which is bound in contemporary calf, was the work of William Baird of Dysart. There are three folding plates which illustrate the cosmological systems of Copernicus, Tycho Brahe and Ptolemy. Purchased with the generous support of the Friends of the National Libraries.
Donaldson, John. ALS to H[enry] E[dward] Dibdin E2009.30
It was Edinburgh University’s Music Professor John Donaldson (1789-1865) who established a museum and purchased old and unusual musical instruments which today forms the John Donaldson Collection. As well as founding this collection, Donaldson built a fine hall as his music classroom with adjoining museum gallery, now known as the Reid Concert Hall. This undated letter from John Donaldson to H. H. Dibdin discusses the adjustment and tuning of an organ, and denies that Sir George Clerk had advocated ‘the absurd perfect third system’.
MacCaig, Norman. ALS to Mr. Kenneth Campbell E2009.35
This is an addition to the MacCaig collection of material consisting of 2 ALS and dated 4 February 1967 and 23 May 1967, together with two orginal typescipts for the poems ‘Rhu Mor’ and ‘Country Postman’. The two letters are written to Kenneth Campbell, editor of a student literary magazine at Dundee University. MacCaig was one of the central group of Scots poets represented in the painting ‘Poets’ Pub’ by Alexander Moffat. Moffat described his selection of writers as those who ‘have played the leading role, both in their verse and prose, in shaping the artistic conscience of this country.’ MacCaig claimed to compose his poems quickly, discarding those that did not work, and never labouring more successful efforts. Thus the changes in the present typescripts, made between completion and publication, are particularly illuminating. He separated his work into short ‘one-fag’ poems, composed in the duration it took to smoke a cigarette, and the longer, ‘two-fag’ efforts. While ‘Country Postman’ might be the former, ‘Rhu Mor’ is more extensive.
Ormerod, Eleanor Anne. ALS to G.C.Hughes, 2 August 1894 E2009.36 WITH Ormerod, Eleanor Anne. Manual of injurious insects. 2nd edn. London, 1890. RB.S.319
Ormerod (1828-1901) was an entomologist who was the first woman to be awarded an honorary degree by the University of Edinburgh. She established herself as the leading authority on the subject and pioneered the teaching of economic entomology – leading to the recognition that insect activity had a major impact on agriculture and business. On 14 April 1900 she received an honorary LLD degree from the University, to whom she left a substantial sum of money. This letter was found inside the book formerly owned by G.C.Hughes; it joins 7 other letters already in Special Collections.
West Port Murders. Edinburgh: Thomas Ireland, 1829. RB.S.347
This is one of the most substantial contemporary accounts of the crimes committed by William Burke and William Hare, who murdered in order to sell corpses for anatomical dissection. With numerous illustrations and 362 pages of dense text, this gives the scandal-hungry reader everything they could want. It is curious that such an important work relating to a key episode in Edinburgh’s history was not already in the collections.
Notebook on legal matters including transcript of the trial of Captain John Porteous. E.2009.37
The lynching of Captain John Porteous in 1736 is another shocking incident in Edinburgh’s dark history. Porteous had been captain of the city guard when one Andrew Wilson, a smuggler, was hanged on 14 April 1736. The crowd sympathised with Wilson and a riot started; Porteous took the extreme measure of ordering his troops to fire on the people, killing six. Porteous was tried and convicted for murder, but seemed likely to be spared the death penalty. Popular feeling ran so high that a mob stormed the Tolbooth on 7 September 1736 and took Porteous to be beaten, repeatedly hung and let down, and eventually killed. No-one was ever punished for the riot, but the Provost of Edinburgh was dismissed for failing to manage his turbulent city.
This notebook contains a part-copy of the transcript of the trial as it was published (Criminal Trials, illustrative of the tale entitled “The Heart of Midlothian”, Edinburgh, 1818). The writer was probably a law student and includes other notes on legal matters, aphorisms and religious references, rather like a commonplace book.
Collection of 65 Scottish charters and documents, 1402-1699 E.2009.33
Our successful bid at auction for this collection was one of the highlights of this purchasing year. These charters and documents, in Scots and Latin, many with fine seals, give a fascinating record of Scottish legal transactions, land ownership and religious affiliation from the medieval period to the end of the 17th century. It forms an excellent complement to our central manuscript collection, the David Laing manuscripts, which we are hoping to open up for research and discovery. Highlights of the collection include the earliest item, a charter in Scots dated 21 August 1402, with the seal of one Katherine Paxton – information about prominent women recorded in Scots is scarce in this early period. Item 14, a charter of Archbishop John Hamilton of St. Andrews dated 1556, is a vast document which suggests the power that the church held in Scotland immediately before the Reformation. Several of the items have a Catholic recusant connection, such as item 57, a will in Scots which gives instructions for arranging Mass for the deceased. With this one, as with several documetns, there is a Roslin connection and Roslin Chapel gets several mentions. The legal document at no. 60, which involves Archibald, Lord of the Isles, is a staggering 4.57 metres long. There are also royal charters of James VI, Charles I and William II. The areas covered range from the Borders to the Highlands, and many prominent Scottish family names appear – Hay of Yester, Sinclaire of Roslin, Scott of Harden. There are numerous possibilities for exploration here.
THOMSON, William [Baron Kelvin] and Peter Guthrie TAIT. Elementary Dynamics. [bound with:] THOMSON, William. Elements of Dynamics. Edited, with permission, by John Ferguson, M.A., from notes of lectures... [and:] TAIT, Peter Guthrie. Historical sketch of the dynamical theory of heat. Not published. Edinburgh, Thomas Constable, 1867. (Not published). Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1870: Glasgow, George Richardson, 1863: (Not published). Edinburgh, Thomas Constable, 1867. RB.S.363
This is an important addition to our collections illustrating the history of Scottish science and engineering. These are three truly rare printed but unpublished works by two leading figures in British physics; no copy is found in the National Library of Scotland. Thomson (Baron Kelvin of Largs) and Tait (Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh) apparently issued versions of their texts in this form to meet student demand. The first work is interleaved and has pencil annotations; presumably it was actually used by a science student.
Mackenzie, George. Institutions of the law of Scotland. 2nd edition. Edinburgh: Printed by John Reid, for Thomas Broun, 1688. RB.S.364
‘Bloody Mackenzie’, the harrower of the Covenanters, is also known as a famous lawyer and founder of the Advocates’ Library. This is a copy of the second edition of his work on Scottish law, which was clearly well-used: there are 37 pages of dense manuscript additions at the end of the volume.
Testimonials in favour of Paul Moffatt, M.D. Wooler: Printed by Robert Brown, [1836] RB.P.124
Moffatt was educated at Edinburgh’s Royal High School, the Royal College of Surgeons and the University, graduating in 1863. This is a collection of 20 testimonials in support of his application to be surgeon at Alnwick Infirmary. The list of supporting names starts with James Syme and Robert Christison, both famous medical figures.
McIntosh, Angus. [Lecture] On planning a dialect survey of Scotland. A lecture delivered at the Summer School of Linguistics, Ann Arbor, July 1949 E2009.39
This lecture, in typescript, and running to 35pp, is an interesting complement to existing McIntosh lecture material in Edinburgh University Library – namely ‘A new approach to Middle English dialectology’ which had been delivered in the University of Edinburgh to the staff of the English Language Department and a few invited colleagues, Wednesday, 18 November 1959.