1. [West Highland Line] / [Scottish Railway Line Glasgow to Mallaig] / [Rathad Iarainn nan Eilean – “Iron Road to the Isles”]

Massive Photographic Documentation of The Western Highland Line [Glasgow to Mallaig] in 900 [ninehundred] vintage Photographs, taken over a period of 30 Years by a Railway and Nature-Explorer and placed in four massive XXL Folders with extensive, beautiful and detaild annotations and explanations. The photographs range from smaller formats (10 cm wide x 15.2 cm high) to a huge amount of Extra-Large Vintage Photographs (39.2 cm wide x 29.4 cm high) and many even measure 40 cm x33 cm, filling entire leaves. Many of the photographs are impeccably applied inside these High-End-Archival-Folders with often numerous captions in the handwriting of the Photographer / Highland Explorer. An inexplicably stunning and absolutely unique documentation of the scottish landscape along the West Highland Line between the years 1974 – 2002. The images document Scottish rivers, Lochs and Roads, Mountains and Hills alongside the Railway-Lines but landscapes are also often shown without the Railway present. Besides the nature we also find photographs of architectural features like overpasses or industrial buildings and railway-track-imagery masterfully photographe, bordering on the abilities of a New Objectivity – photographer like Albert Renger-Patzsch. An important, maybe even singular photographic Impact-study of Railway to the Scottish Highlands. The anonymous photographer has injected himself occasionally in the images, beautifully showing his pitched tent and motorcycle in order let the viewer understand the dedication his travels have cost him. The masterful photographer also showcases his love for detail and artistry by ever so often partially and sparsely coloring Railway-Waggons or Locomotives within his black-and-white-photography, highlighting the technology in the vulnerable landscape, giving the whole collection an artistic and critical component of focusing the viewer on the object of his desire, yet contrasting how lost even a magnificent Locomotive and its carriages seems when vanishing in front of the majestic scottish landscape. The documentation is meticulous, often allowing for multiple vintage photographs on one page showing the same location during different times, exhausting all questions of functionality of the Railway opposed to the landscape with or without Railway in the shots. For the conservation-movement of the Scottish Highlands this collection is an unbelievable chance to preserve the memory of this landmark Railway-Line, connecting the extreme remote with the urban. For those who research the scottish landscape this is a unique opportunity to acquire the life’s work of one man’s obsession with “Railway and Landscape” in the Scottish Highland.

Scotland, 1974-2002. Oblong-Folio (44 cm wide x 36 cm high). Hardcover / Original Full-Leather Folders with stong, black cardboards and original tissue-guards. Excellent condition with only minor signs of wear. With hundreds of manuscript annotations on the photography, the photography-technique, film used and with extensive elaborations on each photograph in these albums. More images on request !

2. Stuart de Rothesay, Charles Stuart, Baron (1779-1845) / Hay, Robert William (1786-1861) / Jean-Baptiste Rousseau (1780 – 1831) [Baron de Rousseau – French Orientalist and French Consul at Tripoli] / Alexander Gordon Laing (1794 – 1826) [Scottish explorer and the first European to reach Timbuktu] / Hanmer Warrington / Foreign Secretary for Prime Minister Wellington, George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen [Lord Aberdeen].

Original, unpublished and meaningful letter by British official and Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, Sir Robert William Hay, addressed with urgency to former secret agent in Spain and Portugal, Sir Charles Stuart de Rothesay, Scottish nobleman, and English ambassador to France (1815-1830); alerting Ambassador Charles Stuart of Hay’s arrival in Paris and his wish to ask him if he has “anything to communicate to me in regard to that Royal [Baron] Rousseau, The Barbary Consul”. Hay is in this letter preparing Stuart in order to investigate the situation around the death of explorer Alexander Gordon Laing in Africa. Under-Secretary for the Colonies, Sir R[obert] W.Hay, who had been informed about the situation around Laing’s missing Journals per private letter from the British Consul in Tripoli, Hanmer Warrington, announces his arrival in Paris to protest to the French government and advices ambassador Stuart:″I conclude that he [Baron Jean-Baptiste Rousseau] is by this time out of guarantiae, but I hope that by ensuing at Paris he will only get out of the frying Pan with the fire”. Hay continues: “I hope you will go with me (in case it be necessary) to the Minister, whoever he may be, in [?] Departement this ….were incredibly false for it. The French Govt. are really disposed & prosecute the Enquiry bon a fide. I think that same may acq…[….]…..on the other hand, if the French Govt. do not enter into y. enquiry with a good spirit, it will be in Rousseau’s …..to baffle me with the utmost facility in all our attempts to get at the truth. I spoke to Lord Aberdeen [George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen, Foreign Secretary for Prime Minister Wellington] on the day I left London, & he gave me full permission to conduct measures with you for the …of this affair. Yours very truly R.W.Hay”.

[London], [1829]. 5 octavo – pages on 2 sheets, folded. Excellent condition. Signed by Hay and dated probably “Monday, 19 Oct. [1829]”.

3. Gilpin, William. [Castle-Freke Library Bookplates]

Collection of four Volumes (bound in two) by Gilpin – All from the historical library at Castle Freke (Castlefreke, West Cork / Ireland). The Volumes include: I. & II. Observations Relative Chiefly to Picturesque Beauty, Made in the Year 1776, on Several Parts of Great Britain; particularly the High-Lands of Scotland. [Second Edition, with an “Account of the Prints” bound to the rear] / III. Observations on the River Wye and several Parts of South Wales &c. relative chiefly to Picturesque Beauty; Made in the summer of the Year 1770 (Third Edition). / IV. An Essay on Prints – [″The chief intention of the following work was to put the elegant amusement of collecting prints, on a more rational footing; by giving the unexperienced collector a few principles and cautions to assist him”] (Fourth Edition with the printed dedication “To the Honorable Horace Walpole in Deference to his Taste in the Polite Arts; and the Valuable Researches he has made to improve them; the following work is inscribed by his most obedient and very humble servant, William Gilpin”). [Volumes I & II with 40 original illustrations and vintage 18th century maps [correctly 39 illustrations and one table], for example of Loch Lomond and the Firth of Forth/ all illustrations are vintage mezzotint-plates].

Mixed Editions. Four Volumes (bound in two). London, Printed for R. Blamire, Strand, 1792. Octavo. Pagination: Volume I: XI, [1], 221 pages with 24 mezzotints / Volume II: 195, XVI pages with 16 mezzotints and an “Account of the Prints” as well as “Translations of Latin Passages” / [Volume III]: [River Wye]: XVI, 152 pages with 16 (of 17) full – page mezzotints / [Volume IV]: [An Essay on Prints]: XIII, [3], 174 pages plus XI pages Index and 1 page Errata. Hardcover / Early 19th century quarter – morocco with gilt lettering and ornament on spine. Both volumes bound in unison. Very good + condition with only minor signs of external wear. Pages 185 – 191 of Volume I with some stronger browning. Otherwise the interior very clean. All mezzotints in very good or even better condition. This is the original copy from the historical Castle-Freke Library in West Cork (Ireland), with two armorial bookplates to front and rear pastedown with the family’s motto ‘Pro Patria’. With two pages of manuscript annotations by a contemporary hand with a reference between the common name “Tarbet” in Scotland and a place-name in County Kerry in Ireland” (pages 13 of Volume II) / another entry is on page 12 of Volume II regarding the name-sake “Loch-Loung” for a Lake of ships in Scotland and Ireland.

4. [Cambridge Trinity College / Oxford Magdalen College / Scotland / England – 19th Century Tourism].

Vintage 19th-century Photoalbum with fiftythree (53) Large Albumen Prints of Oxford University and Cambridge University as well as tourist destinations visited in the year 1882 in Scotland and England. The Album shows with visits to Edinburgh, Loch Lomond and its “S.S.Rob Roy – Steamboat with Pier and Ben Venue, Loch Katrine, Callander Bridge and Ben Ledi, The Trossachs, then moves to Hastings and later shows many rare photographs of Cambridge University and Oxford University (including Trinity College and Magdalen College etc. (see complete list below)). Fantastic Album which also shows one magnificent photograph of Stonehenge and one of “The Major Oak” in Sherwood Forest in the year 1885.

Scotland / England, 1882-1885. Quarto. 53 photographs on original boards. Original Hardcover. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Some minor signs of foxing only.

5. [Earl of Southesk, Charles Noel Carnegie, 10th] [Provenance: Adam Smith, Lady [Janet] and subsequently the Alpine Club London] / Carnegie, V.M.

A Kenyan Farm Diary – With Illustrations. [From the library of eminent scottish Writer, Mountaineer and Literary Critic, Janet Adam Smith and subsequently the Alpine Club in London for which Janet Adam Smith was Vice-President during the years 1978-1980 and to which she possibly had donated this book (our company has purchased a large stock of fantastic books and periodicals from the famous Alpine Club through Forum Auctions several years ago)].

Second Impression. Edinburgh and London, William Blackwood & Sons Ltd., 1931. Octavo. Frontispiece, XII, 271 pages. With seven photographic illustrations on four plates. Original Hardcover with the very rare original dustjacket in protective collector’s mylar. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear and foxing to the edges and several pages. This book is very rare in its original dustjacket. Inscribed and signed by Charles Noel Carnegie, 10th Earl of Southesk (1854-1941): “To Lady Adam Smith from the Earl of Southesk – Jan 1934”. With a newspaper-clipping on an event of Inverness Central School loosely inserted and with a newspaper-clipping shopwing the elderly “Earl of Southesk and Mr. Donald Steuart-Fothringham going out to shoot over Petterden Moor, Angus”. A wonderful association copy !

6. Wilkes, John / Bingley, William.

The North Briton – Revised and Corrected by the Author. Illustrated with Explanatory Notes and A Copious Index of Names and Characters. In Two Volumes (Revised Edition of Volumes I and II – Containing: No. 1 – No.45 – Published London, 1766) / [Plus: The North Briton – Volumes III – Printed for E. Sumpter, London and Dublin, 1763 (Containing No.46 from May 28, 1763 – No.68 on October 27th, 1763) & The North Briton – Volume IV – Printed for W[illiam] Bingley, London and Dublin, 1769 (No.46 from November the 12th, 1763 – No. 66 (or XX (20) of the Continuation) from September 17, 1768].

Mixed Editions bound uniformly [First Edition and Corrected Editions together]. Four Volumes (Bound in Three). London and Dublin, E.Sumpter & Anonymously, 1763 – 1769 Octavo (10 cm x 16,5 cm). Pagination: Volume I and II: 269, [5] pages including Index with two title-pages but continued pagination / Volume III: 216 pages / Volume IV: 288 pages. Hardcover / Original 18th century leather with gilt numbering on spine and new spine-labels , created to style of the 18th-century. Excellent condition with some minor signs of wear only. From the library of Edward Supple, [most likely the Edward Supple from Supple’s Court, Castlemartyr, County Cork], with his name to titlepages. A very rare set !

7. Sinclair, John.

The Statistical Account of Scotland. Drawn up from the Communications of the ministers of the Different Parishes. Collection of five Volumes including Volumes 7 (1793), 8 (1793), 10 (1794), 11 (1794) and 19 (1797). Including the County of Fife, County of Ayr, Syno of Glasgow etc.

Original Edition. 5 Volumes. Edinburgh, William Creech, 1793 – 1797. Octavo. Collation: Volume 7: VI, 625 pages / Volume 8: (3), 650 pages / Volume 10: VIII, 637 pages / Volume 11: (4), 627 pages / Volume 19: VI, 631 pages. Illustrated with maps and illustrations ! Modern Hardcover (half cloth with marbled-paper covered boards. New endpapers. Excellent recent Masterbindings). Excellent condition of all five Volumes. Paper and illustrations in wonderful condition.

8. Handcoloured Map Art of 18th century Scotland – [Millar, William] / [Grant, John] / [Leslie, William] Forsyth, Isaac / [Hugh Houstoun].

A Survey of the Province of Moray; Historical, Geographical, and Political. [Inscribed and dedicated by scottish Mapmaker William Millar / Including the amazing, large Map of Moray and the Nairn Shires by William Millar (51 cm x 49 cm) and the engraving of “Elgin Cathedral” (also by William Millar)].

First Edition. Aberdeen, Printed for Isaac Forsyth, Bookseller, Elgin, 1798. Octavo (14 cm x 21,5 cm). Folded, hand-coloured Frontispiece-Map by William Millar, Frotispiece-Engraving of the “Elgin Cathedral” , VIII, 353 pages. Original Hardcover / Original 18th or early 19th century leather with original spinelabel. The large, hand-coloured Map with a minor tear only. Corners slightly bumped. Spine slightly starting but overall in excellent condition with some minor signs of wear only. Interesting Provenance and signed manuscript dedication by the Cartographer and Mapmaker William Millar: From the library of Aberdeen Highlander, Major Hugh Houstoun, with a dedication: “April 27th, 1798 – To Major Hugh Houstoun – from his Much obliged and Humble Servant William Millar”.

9. Stuart de Rothesay, Charles Stuart, Baron (1779-1845) / Strangford, Percy Clinton Sydney Smythe, 6th Viscount (1780 – 1855).

Original, unpublished letter by Anglo-Irish diplomat, Percy Clinton Sydney Smythe, 6th Viscount Strangford, to Sir Charles Stuart [Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay], asking him for a favour to send a Lantern to an address in Paris [?]. Strangford writes from his post as British Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Stockholm, where he was posted between 1817 and 1820.

Stockholm, 1819. 2 octavo – pages on 1 sheet, folded. Excellent condition. Signed by Strangford.

10. [Constable, Archibald David].

The Farmer’s Magazine : A Periodical Work, Exclusively Devoted to Agriculture, And Rural Affairs.

Fourth Edition. Three Volumes [Volume I, II and III]. Edinburgh, Printed by D.Willison for Archibald Constable, 1802. Octavo (14 cm wide x 21.7 cm high). Volume I: II, 489 pages plus 7 unnumbered pages of an Index and including 1 full-page illustration of a “Plough for Cleaning Turnips”/ Volume II: 484, V pages plus 1 page of Advertising of “Books Printed for Archibald Constable” plus 1 Extra-Large Fold-out “Table, or Mode of Cultivating the Farm, 1 full-page plate showcasing the “Advantage to be derived from streighting of Rivers”, 1 full-page plate showcasing different Grubs and Caterpillars, 1 full—page Diagram showing compositions of soil (Clay, Sand or Gravel, Calx, Moorish or Mossy Soil, Loam or Black Rich Earth) / Volume III: Portrait-Frontispiece of Francis Duke of Bedford, 546 pages with 1 full-page “Plan of W. Hunter’s Feeding Byre at Eskmont” (with a Dung Court), 1 Text-Illustration showing “A Machine for Pounding Limestone”, 1 full-page plate showing the phenomenon of “Floating Land” – Farming next to a River, 1 Text-Illustration of “The Argyleshire Plough, invented by Alexander Campbell”, 1 extra-large fold-out plan of a Table showing Price-Developments of British Corn, Barley, Wheat, Peas, Bear, Bigg exported, 1 full-page plate showcasing the architectural structure of a Thrashing Mill Barn, 1 full-page plate showing the structure of sucessful Embankments. Hardcover / Original, decorative half- leather with gilt lettering on spine. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Very rare in this original condition. From the library of Richard Meade (Ballymartle), with his Exlibris / Bookplate to pastedown.