Fraser, Sir William
Extensive set of his histories of Scottish noble families
£1,638
Auction: 19 September 2024 from 10:00 BST
Description
Edinburgh: [privately printed], 1858-88. 15 works in 34 volumes, all first editions, 4to, original red cloth with large armorial devices gilt to covers unless otherwise stated, numerous plates including lithographic manuscript facsimiles. Comprising:
The Stirlings of Keir, and their Family Papers, 1858. One of 150 copies, the author's copy, inscribed for him by William Stirling, commissioner of the work, and with Fraser's ownership inscription to title-page, original quarter morocco, a little rubbing and spotting;
Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok. Edinburgh: printed for Sir John Maxwell of Pollok. Baronet, by Thomas Constable, 1863. One of 150 copies, this copy inscribed on limitation leaf to Thomas Maxwell of Woodside Place, Glasgow, 2 volumes, original green cloth gilt, volume 1 front cover stained, variable spotting;
History of the Carnegies, Earls of Southesk, and of their Kindred. Edinburgh: for the Earl of Southesk [by Thomas and Archibald Constable], 1867. First edition, one of 100 copies, this copy inscribed on limitation page to Lord Lindsay (Earl of Crawford and Balcarres), with Bibliotheca Lindesiana bookplates to front pastedowns), spines faded and nicked, spotting to outer leaves;
The Red Book of Grandtully. Edinburgh: printed for Sir William Drummond Steuart, Baronet of Grandtully, 1868. One of 100 copies, this copy inscribed on limitation page to Lord Lindsay (Earl of Crawford and Balcarres) with Bibliotheca Lindesiana bookplates to front pastedowns, 2 volumes, spotting to outer leaves, volume 1 initial quire slightly loose;
The Chiefs of Colquhoun and their Country. Edinburgh: for Sir James Colquhoun of Colquhoun and Luss [by Thomas and Archibald Constable], 1869. One of 150 copies, this copy inscribed on limitation leaf to George Stirling Home Drummond of Blair Drummond and Ardoch, with his bookplates to front pastedowns, 2 volumes, 4to, original red cloth decorated in gilt, spines faded;
Memorials of the Montgomeries Earls of Eglinton, 1869. First edition, 2 volumes, original purple cloth;
The Lennox. Edinburgh: privately printed for Richard Alexander Oswald of Auchencruive [and others, by Thomas Constable], 1874. One of 150 copies, this copy inscribed on limitation leaf to the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, with Bibliotheca Lindesiana bookplates to front pastedowns, 2 volumes, spotting to endpapers, limitation leaf creased, volume 1 front inner hinge cracked;
The Earls of Cromartie, their Kindred, Country, and Correspondence, 1876. One of 150 copies , 2 volumes, 4to, volume 2 inner hinges cracked;
The Book of Carlaverock. Memoirs of the Maxwells, Earls of Nithsdale, Lords Maxwell and Herries. 1878. One of 150 copies, this copy presented to William Middleton of Myddleton Lodge, 2 volumes, volumes 2 inner hinges cracked;
The Scotts of Buccleuch, 1878. One of 150 copies (the limitation leaf loose: apparently issued as a slip accompanying the books and never bound in), 2 volumes, Castlecraig library plates to front pastedowns, volume 2 with wear to front joint and inner hinges cracked;
The Frasers of Philorth, 1879. One of 150 copies, this copy inscribed to Robert Strathern Esq., Writer to the Signet, with his bookplates, 3 volumes, wear to headcaps;
The Book of Menteith. 1880. 2 volumes;
The Chiefs of Grant, 1883. 3 volumes, original red quarter morocco;
The Douglas Book, 1885. 4 volumes, original red quarter morocco, Talygarn bookplates, volume 4 binding marked and worn;
Memorials of the Family of Wemyss of Wemyss, 1888. One of 100 copies, this copy inscribed to the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres on limitation slip mounted to front pastedown of volume 1, with Bibliotheca Lindesiana bookplates, 3 volumes, original red quarter morocco by D. S. Smith of Edinburgh
Provenance
The Library of a Scottish Gentleman
Footnote
Fraser's other family histories are: Memorials of the Earls of Haddington (1889); The Melvilles, Earls of Melville, and the Leslies, Earls of Leven (1890); The Sutherland Book (1892); The Annandale Family Book of the Johnstones (1894); and The Elphinstone Family Book of the Johnstones (1897).