PRESENTATION COPY
A guide from glasgow, to some of the most remarkable Scenes in the highlands of scotland, and to the falls of the clyde .
Glasgow.
Printed in the Courier Office, 1797.
First edition.
8vo.
249, [1], 6pp. With half-title. Contemporary gilt-tooled straight-grain tan morocco, contrasting black morocco lettering-piece. Rubbed, a trifle marked, slight chipping to lettering-piece. Marbled endpapers, armoiral bookplate to FEP, internally immaculate. Presentation copy, inscribed to verso of front blank fly-leaf; 'Mr. Drummond, / of Blairdrummond, / with most respectful compliments from / The Author.'
The sole edition of James M'Nayr's (1757/8-1808) accessible guide for travellers to the environs of the Highlands of Scotland, providing reports on the condition of roads and the quality of inn accommodation for a tour to be ideally taken 'from the middle of July till the end of August'. M'Nayr, following soon after the commencement of his suggested route, implores tourists to make an excursion to the Blair Drummond estate, Perthshire; the house, once the residence of renowned Enlightenment polymath Lord Kames, was inherited by his son George Home Drummond - to whom this copy is inscribed. The younger laird completed his father's work in draining the surrounding moss land, utilising Meikle's great wheel installed in 1787 - an undertaking M'Nayr enthusiastically relates. However, the author is not concerned merely with the picturesque, providing an exuberant account of 'New Lanark and Mr. Dales cotton mills'.
ESTC T35913.
£ 950.00
Antiquates Ref: 15169