Lot 158
![[Boece, Hector]](https://media.app.artisio.co/media/104cbde6-0d38-43cb-9e0f-bb721ef57bcf/inventory/7581f3e4-ae16-49bd-99de-9408fb107086/fd5361be-24ce-4ce8-aba4-86968b40bc0e/0001_BuVtYh_original.jpg)
[Boece, Hector]
[Heir Beginnis the Hystory and Croniklis of Scotland]
Auction: 02 October 2025 from 10:00 BST
Description
[Edinburgh: Thomas Davidson, 1540.] Small folio (26 x 18cm), first edition of the translation of Scotorum historia into Scots, contemporary panelled calf, boards detached, covers very rubbed and worn, spine flaking, lacking title-page and another initial leaf, much of gathering A loose and worn with the large part of the text missing, lacking C1 and 1[rum] 4-8 (i.e. lacking C1 and the final 5 leaves, including colophon), a few holes and tears slightly affecting text with 2S1 sporting a tear to lower margin affecting a few sentences, dust-soiling, dampstaining and some browning internally [ESTC S107092]
Footnote
A defective copy of Boece's Heir beginnis the hystory and croniklis of Scotland, translated from Latin into Scots English by John Bellenden. This is the first edition in Scots, 1540, and can be considered to be the earliest surviving printed example of the Scots language. The work has been credited with forming an early Scottish identity, although much of the text flatters James IV of Scotland and maligns traditionally vilified characters, such as Macbeth.