£1,638
Scottish Works of Art & Whisky | 748
Auction: 16 August 2023 at 11:00 BST
12 pp. (numbered 3-14 but the text complete), 18.2 x 14.6cm, early wrappers, front wrapper verso with the early inscription 'This Declaration was read at the Cross at Edinburg, in 1745, when the Pretender had possessed himself of that city. It was the first of three there then read', bookplate of John Towneley (see note), first 2 leaves loose
Provenance:
Property of a Gentleman – Previously from the collection of Sir Colin MacRae (1869-1952) of Feorlinn and Lady Margaret Crichton Stuart (1875-1964)
John Towneley (1731-1818) was the member of a prominent English Jacobite family; an uncle was executed for his participation in the Jacobite rising of 1745. He inherited the family seat of Towneley Hall, Lancashire in 1808. After his death his library was sold by Evans as the Bibliotheca Towneleiana in two major sales conducted in 1814 and 1815.
Note: James promises a royal pardon to all transgressors against 'our royal father, or our-selves', to call a free parliament t'to repair the breeches [sic] caused by so long an usupration', to 'free our people from the unsupportable burthen of the malt-tax and all other hardships', and to guarantee the free exercise of religion for Protestants. The text was printed in A Collection of Declarations, Proclamations, and Other Valuable Papers. Published by authority at Edinburgh, in the years 1745 and 1746 (Edinburgh, 1748, ESTC T163990).