Sims Reed Rare Books

Alexander Macpherson Campbell's presentation copy of this scarce large format study of Scottish costume and characters.

The title of the first volume features an elaborate calligraphic presentation in sepia ink verso: 'London 1st. Jan[uar]y. 1870 / Presented to / Alexander Macpherson Campbell / by ...'; the following names, there are 9, are signatures and mostly illegible but appear to include John Charldon., Harry Dumas, Bernard Fowler, G. B. Foster, Clayton Litchfield and John Tiscombe.

Detailing the principal clans of the highlands and the Balmoral retainers of Queen Victoria, Macleay's work - issued with the Royal arms and imprimatur and 'Published by Command' - provides a large and detailed pictorial record of Victorian Scotland. Each of Vincent Brooks' lithographs - all are finished with remarkable quality with colour by hand - after Macleay's originals is accompanied by Macleay's detailed exegetic text.

The clans depicted are as follows: Campbell, Cameron, Chisholm, Murray, Drummond, Gordon, Grant, Fraser, Macdonald, Macgregor, Macintosh, Menzies, Robertson et al.; also shown are Queen Victoria's 'Personal Servant' John Brown, her piper, William Ross, 'Head Keeper' John Grant and others.

2 vols. Elephant folio. (568 x 466 mm). Title to each vol., leaf with 'Preface' to vol. I, contents leaves to each vol. and 31 lithograph plates (15 in vol. I and 16 in vol. II) each with additional colour by hand and mounted to large leaves of thick blue / grey card within gilt rules and with titles in gilt, each with leaf (or leaves) of descriptive text on thinner paper, text and plates mounted to tabs throughout; sheet size: 556 x 434 mm. Original publisher's burgundy cloth, titles gilt within gilt ruled borders to front covers and gilt to spine, boards with bevelled edges, a.e.g., later glazed yellow paper-lined maroon cloth boxes, burgundy morocco labels with gilt titles to front covers and spines.

#48495