SCOTLAND. Estates
£1,900
Auction: 1 February 2005 at 11:00 GMT
Description
The actis and constitutiounis of the Realme of Scotland made in parliamentis haldin be ... Kingis James the first, secund, third, feird, fyft, and in tyme of Marie now Quene of Scottis ... 1st edition, 2nd issue [i.e 28 November 1566], 1st state (with line 3 of the title ending with "the"), ff. [xiv], 182 [i.e. 180], lacking c4 & A1 (blanks ?), the title with a large woodcut of the Royal Arms of Scotland, Black Letter, c. 1800 russia, rebacked,some water staining of the outer margins, repairs to the outer margins of the first few leaves, small folio, Edinburgh: Robert Lekpreuik, 1566
Note: Aldis 51; Dickson & Emond Annals of Scottish printing 226.30 (noting the absence of C4 & A15 S&M p. 115; STC 21876; Stair Society Introductory survey p. 15
Known as the "Black Acts", and described as the "the most important of the series" (Stair Society) of the early collections, there are two issues, the first issued in October 1566, the second in November 1566, and of the latter, there are two states, the first with the 3rd line of the title ending with "the" and in the second, ending in "First". The November printing omitted the Acts in favour of the Catholic religion and added a few miscellaneous acts.
Provenance: With the signature on the titlepage of Jacobus Balfurius de Randerstone, Advocate and with the bookplate of the Earl of Home. James Balfour was admiited to the Faculty of Advocates in 1681 (Grant) and was the second son of Sir David Balfour, afterwards Lord Forret, a senator of the College of Justice and Lord Lyon Depute (Grant p. 10; Wood East Neuk of Fyfe , 1887, p. 458)