A GUTENBERG BIBLE MISSED
An Artist's Ramble in Scotland During the Summer of 1870.
[s.i.].
[s.n.], [c. 1870]
Quarto.
Manuscript on paper. 68pp. Illustrated with engravings extracted from contemporary published works, photographs, and original pen and ink, pencil, and watercolour sketches. Modern brown cloth, preserving contemporary morocco upper board, A.E.G. Rubbed. Scattered spotting. Later pencilled inscription 'Mary Gregory from her husband No. 19/71' and inked inscription 'James R. Gregory from his mother. Nov. 19th / 22' to FFEP.
'Our attendant, a fair specimen of the Scottish lass, and a very pure speaker, pointed out tombs and the other objects of interest with commendable patience and tact. The rain, however, came on, and as the ruin was roofless and would not afford us much shelter, we went to the station'.
A finely executed, remarkably charming, manuscript account of a brief summer sojourn in Scotland - encompassing Melrose and Abbotsford, Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Trossachs and Stirling - evidently, given later ownership inscriptions and the illustrated coat of arms present on the title page, by a member of Clan Gregor.
A particular highlight of the manuscript is an endearing passage in which our intrepid traveller laments a lost opportunity to view a Gutenberg Bible whilst in the capital:
'We should have liked to have seen in the Advocates' Library a complete copy of the Bible in two volumes, printed by Faust and Guttenberg, the inventor of printing. We believe it is well printed in a bold black, or old English, letter...and as our taste lies in this direction it would have been a rare treat to have looked upon its precious pages, but we being then unaware of the existence there of such a treasure missed the sight of it'.
The travelogue is richly illustrated with contemporary engravings and photographs and prepossessing original pen and ink and watercolour sketches of notable landmarks and antiquities including, inter alia, 'Rob Roy's Pistol and Dirk', 'Sir Walter's Reading Table', Edinburgh Castle, and the 'Falls of Inversmaid'.
£ 1,250.00
Antiquates Ref: 32236
A finely executed, remarkably charming, manuscript account of a brief summer sojourn in Scotland - encompassing Melrose and Abbotsford, Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Trossachs and Stirling - evidently, given later ownership inscriptions and the illustrated coat of arms present on the title page, by a member of Clan Gregor.
A particular highlight of the manuscript is an endearing passage in which our intrepid traveller laments a lost opportunity to view a Gutenberg Bible whilst in the capital:
'We should have liked to have seen in the Advocates' Library a complete copy of the Bible in two volumes, printed by Faust and Guttenberg, the inventor of printing. We believe it is well printed in a bold black, or old English, letter...and as our taste lies in this direction it would have been a rare treat to have looked upon its precious pages, but we being then unaware of the existence there of such a treasure missed the sight of it'.
The travelogue is richly illustrated with contemporary engravings and photographs and prepossessing original pen and ink and watercolour sketches of notable landmarks and antiquities including, inter alia, 'Rob Roy's Pistol and Dirk', 'Sir Walter's Reading Table', Edinburgh Castle, and the 'Falls of Inversmaid'.
