Scottish history and law
16th-18th century works
£1,071
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 8 February 2023 at 10:00 GMT
Description
Boethius, Hector. [Scotorum historiae]. [Paris: Jodocus Badius], 1527. First edition, folio (32 x 21.5cm), later calf, signatures āēīō8 (-ā1) u10 a-z8 A-Z8 AA-BB8 2C6, main title-page (ā1) lacking, large woodcut criblé initials throughout, woodcut arms to ā2, second part with title-page incorporating elaborate woodcut border and central vignette of a printing shop, binding rubbed, joints cracked, rear board near detached, a few light damp-stains, wide margins [Adams B2308];
Idem. Scotorum historiae prima gentis origine. Paris: Jacques du Puys, 1575 [colophon: Lausanne, François Le Preux at the expense of Jacques du Puys]. Folio (30.5 x 19cm), contemporary sprinkled calf, rebacked and relined, woodcut initials, bookplates, extra-illustrated with an engraved portrait of Henricus Florent Laurin by Petrus de Jode after Abraham van Diepenbeeck (c.1662), contemporary marginalia, detailed contemporary annotations to two rear blanks, repaired losses to title-page, ink-stamp of the University of Edinburgh to foot of title, very occasional light damp-staining [Adams B2310];
Scott, George (editor). The Memoires of Sir James Melvil of Hal-Hill: containing an Impartial Account of the most Remarkable Affairs of State ... relating to the Kingdoms of England of Scotland, under the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots, and King James. London: by E. H. for Robert Boulter, 1683. Folio, contemporary mottled calf, covers detached, two holes in 2P2 [ESTC R201];
Lindsay, Robert. The History of Scotland; from 21 February, 1436 to March, 1565 ... To which is added, a Continuation, by Another Hand, till August 1604. Edinburgh: printed by Mr Baskett and Company, 1728. 2 copies, both first editions, folio, one in contemporary panelled calf, rubbed, joints cracked, spotting and browning, marginal tear to d1, 2Y2 closed marginal tear extending into text, the other in 19th-century half russia, covers detached, upper margin of title-page excised, spotting and browning, short closed tears in 2G1 and 2P2 [ESTC T87021];
Skene, Sir John. Regiam Majestatem. The Auld Lawes and Constitutions of Scotland. Edinburgh: Thomas Finlason, 1609. First edition in Scots (and any vernacular; first published in Latin the same year), 2 copies, folio, first in copy 20th-century blue cloth, woodcut head- and tailpieces and initials throughout, title-page dust-soiled and with small marginal hole, part 2 ff. A3-4 with partial loss of text from ink corrosion, X6 with short closed tear, repairs to final extant leaf 2H3 (2H4, blank, discarded), second copy in 20th-century black cloth, initial two quires with smaller margins and possibly supplied from another copy, title-page spotted and soiled, lacking index (3 leaves, H2-4) at end, damp-staining towards rear [ESTC S117424];
Idem. Regiam Maiestatem Scotiae. London: John Bill, 1613. Folio, contemporary mottled calf, woodcut head- and tailpieces and initials throughout, title-page with early inscriptions including 'Bibliotheca Colbertina' (i.e. the library of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, 1619-1683, French statesman), manuscript catch-title to bottom edge, spine very worn, title-page with shallow chips along fore edge, stitching strained between part 2 quires F-G, leaves G2-5 loose, final 2 leaves working loose [ESTC S117425: 'A reissue, with cancel title, of the 1609 [Latin] edition'];
Parliament of Scotland. The Lawes and Actes of Parliament, maid be King James the First, and his Succesours Kinges of Scotland. Edinburgh: Robert Walde-grave, 1597. First edition, 2 copies, folio, 20th-century blue and brown cloth respectively, both with letterpress title-page only (an engraved title-page was also issued but 'one of the title-pages is generally missing', ESTC), retaining all medial blanks (e1, h4, n2, 2D4, E6) and folding genealogical table (repaired in one copy, torn in the other), woodcut head- and tailpieces and initials throughout, first copy (blue cloth) with contemporary signature 'Jo. Skene' to end of Table (part 3 sig. E5), possibly the autograph of the compiler Sir John Skene, first leaf (pi1) containing explanatory verses laid down and remargined, second copy (brown cloth) 2G6 with ownership inscription 'George Wichtane notarie burges of Dondie is owner of this book the first of February anno Dom 1626', lacking pi1, part 2 sigs. T3-4, and all of De verborum significatione (sigs. H-T), title-page (pi2) soiled and with woodcut headpiece trimmed, pi4 torn with loss of woodcut headpiece [ESTC S116931];
Spottiswoode, Sir Robert. Practicks of the Laws of Scotland. Edinburgh: printed by James Watson, 1706. First edition, folio, contemporary mottled calf, from the library of David Erskine of Dun (1670-1758), Scottish advocate, with ownership inscription 'Ex libris Davidis Erskine' and engraved bookplate, front board detached, toning, spotting to outer leaves [ESTC T101198];
and 2 others (a fragment of The Lawes of Actes of Parliament, containing De verborum significatione only, 1599, worming; Thomas Thomson, editor, A Collection of Inventories and Other Records of the Royal Wardrobe and Jewlhouse; and of the Artillery and Munitioun [sic] in Some of the Royal Castles, Edinburgh: [privately printed], 1815, 4to, contemporary red quarter morocco, not collated)
Footnote
Provenance: Dictionaries of the Scots Language (with associated bookplates).