Sims Reed Rare Books×

Highlanders of Scotland. Portraits Illustrative of the Principal Clans and Followings, and the Retainers of the Royal Household at Balmoral ... &c

Macleay, Kenneth & Vincent Brooks

London / Edinburgh. Mr. Mitchell, Publisher ... Blackwood & Sons. 1870
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

Other Items

Aesop's Fables with his Life: in...
A superlative large paper copy in a contemporary English binding by the Barlow's Aesop Binder of Barlow's undoubted masterpiece of English book illustration.
£35,000
Barlow, Francis. (Aesop). Behn, AphraAesop's Fables with his...1687
Manchester Portraits. Twelve Lithographed Drawings by...
An unsophisticated proof copy of William Rothenstein's series of lithographs.
£700
Rothenstein, WilliamManchester Portraits. Twelve Lithographed...1900
Catalogue of the John Linnell Collection...
A fine unsophisticated copy of the important catalogue of the sale of this highly significant collection of William Blake material.
£1,750
Blake, WilliamCatalogue of the John...1918
Six Illustrations to Cowper's Diverting History...
The rare issue of Cruikshank's plates, proofs on India paper, in the original wrappers.
£450
Cruikshank, GeorgeSix Illustrations to Cowper's...1828
Essays. With Preface by Thomas Carlyle
A fine copy on vellum of Emerson's Essays, the only American text printed at the Doves Press.
£15,000
Doves Press. Emerson, Ralph WaldoEssays. With Preface by...1906
Brighton Aquatints. Twelve original aquatints of...
The deluxe edition of Piper's charming and evocative hand-coloured aquatints of Brighton.
£17,500
Piper, John. Douglas, Lord AlfredBrighton Aquatints. Twelve original...1939
Rough Draft of New Version of...
The complete illustrated original maquette for the definitive version of Edward Ardizzone's 1938 book 'Tim and Lucy Go to Sea'.
£12,500
Ardizzone, EdwardRough Draft of New...c.1958
Oriental Field Sports; Being a Complete,...
First edition, an early issue bound from the parts, with two of the original part wrappers.
£20,000
Howitt, Samuel. Williamson, Captain ThomasOriental Field Sports; Being...1807
Etchings illustrating Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales.' Introduction...
Chaucer illustrated by Elizabeth Frink.
£5,500
Frink, ElizabethEtchings illustrating Chaucer's 'Canterbury...1972
Paradise Lost. A Series of Twelve...
A scarce New York edition of William Strang's original etchings for 'Paradise Lost'.
£1,000
Strang, William. Milton, JohnParadise Lost. A Series...1896