[James Hogg interest] - Commonplace book relating to the Yarrow Valley
Mid-19th century album possibly kept by Katharine or Margaret Ballantyne
Estimate: £250 - £350
Auction: 18 June 2025 from 10:00 BST
Description
With manuscript verses and prose copied from Jean Paul Richter, Robert Gilfillan, Charles Lamb, Shakespeare, Walter Scott (Lay of the Last Minstrel with a pencil sketch signed Robt. Martin), and William Wordsworth ("The Ettrick Shepherd", written on learning of James Hogg's death), including a seemingly original poem by an unknown writer “Lines on Newark Castle” signed Yarrow Manse 1836, a loosely inserted letter: “My dear Friend, On the banks of Yarrow, where your home is, I leave you these lines as a long remembrance…, With esteem and true friendship, yours sincerely, ?? Clement of Denmark”, and a bound in letter signed James Hogg, to Robert Ballantyne Esq. [husband of Katharine and father of Margaret], one leaf with the faint pencil signature of Margaret L. Hogg, in 19th century half calf album, 23.5 x 19cm, covers detached
Footnote
A commonplace book seemingly kept by a local acquaintance of James Hogg, from the Yarrow Valley in Selkirkshire, Scotland. A letter to Robert Ballantyne of Drygate, Yarrow, suggests that the book could have been compiled by his wife or daughter.