SCOTTISH

4pp., 4to. Fair, on lightly aged and creased paper, with a few closed tears. The letter begins: 'Dear Lynd: I have been very ill and after two months in bed and an introduction to what Marley called "the thick, sweet smell of chloroform" I have been sent down here to get better - with the word of specialist and doctor that when I am well again I shall be better than I have been for a long time. This I write because I have often thought of writing to tell you how much I relish your papers.

341pp., foolscap 8vo, typed onto rectos only, and with the main text paginated in blue pencil to 252pp. Six black and white illustrative photographs laid down, two with the stamp of 'The Scotsman' newspaper on the reverse. A substantial volume, bound with string and staples, with thumb index. In brown wraps, with typed label on front: 'DIGEST GAZETTEER | OF | SCOTTISH LOCHS & | RIVERS'. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn wraps.

2pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. A pencil footnote states that the poem referred to is 'In Praise of Puns' (subtitled on that occasion 'Paronomasiarum Laudatio'), published in the magazine 'Mirth', edited by H. J. Byron, 1878, p.115. Archer has no objection to the poem being reprinted, 'on one or other of two conditions: that you either omit my name (and any description pointing to me), or give the date of their original publication, and the name of the magazine (Mirth was it not?) in which they appeared. In either case, please omit the Latin sub-title.'

Both letters in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Letter One (25 June 1883): 6pp., 12mo.

2pp., 12mo. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. In worn envelope, stamped and postmarked, and addressed by Masson to J. T. Baron, Esq., | 18 Griffin Street, | Wilton, | Blackburn.' He discusses 'British Novelists and their Styles' and 'Essays, Biographical and Critical', before turning to a third work. 'The sketches in Macmillan about which you enquire have not been reprinted in a collected form, & are accessible only in the old numbers of the magazine.' He gives Professor J. S. Blackie's address, and concludes: 'Accept my best thanks for the courteous expressions of your note.'

On 11 x 6.5 cm rectangle of paper, laid down on the pastedown of a 12mo calf front board. Beneath the title: 'This Library is enriched with every work of merit, as soon as published; and comprises such a variety of Travels, Histories, Biography, Novels, Plays, and Literature in general, as cannot fail to graify every Class of Readers. | The Daily Papers taken in.' Following this are the yearly, half-yearly, quarterly and monthly terms for borrowing two and four books. Further text follows, beginning: 'Books read by Non-subscribers charged according to the Size.' and ending 'T. M.

Both volumes in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn black leather bindings, marbled endpapers. Both 4to, the first volume smaller than the second. First Diary: 168pp., 4to. Titled by Few: 'Diary commencing May 30, 1858, and continued during residence at Henley on Thames Oxfordshire. Alverston Hampshire'. Includes two pages of addresses, page of 'Books Read' in 1860 and 1861, and page of accounts for 1861. Second Diary: 180pp., 4to.

1p., 16mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, cut down from 12mo, and with traces of previous mount on reverse. Reads: 'Harrow-on-the-Hill | 4th. November 1881 | Dear Sir, | Your complimentary letter was delivered to me on my return from the continent. | I now hasten to reply by sending you my best thanks for your kind wishes | Yours very truly | [signed] R. M. Ballantyne'.

For more information on Sibbald see the obituary quoted at the end of this description. ONE (Abstract): 3pp., 4to. Headed 'Abstract of the Services of Dr. Sibbald | Assistant Inspector of Hospl.' Dated at end: 'Maidstone | 1st. February 1842.' Bifolium. In good condition, on aged paper, with slight loss at foot of both leaves (affecting a couple of words of text), repaired with archival paper. 53 lines, probably in Sibbald's own autograph, beginning: 'Dr. Sibbald entered the Army as Hospital Assistant in August 1810 - was appointed Assist. Surgeon to the 6th. Dragoon Guards in Decr.

2pp., 4to. An excellent letter, stylish and charming, and a lucky survival. In poor condition, apparently as a result of fire damage: with wear and chipping repaired with archival tape.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with unobtrusive remains of stub adhering to blank second leaf of bifolium. The letter concerns a newspaper article by 'Sir Edward' on Barrie's play 'The Little Minister' (a dramatisation of his own novel of 1891), which had opened at the Haymarket the previous month.

Nineteen items, in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, arranged in the following description into seven sections: ONE. Nine Autograph Letters Signed (two more are in sections Two and Three below) from DJ to ASB. Totalling 3pp., 4to; 15pp., 12mo (12 of them landscape); 5pp., 16mo. Four dating from 1963, one from 2004, and the other four undated (but apparently also from 1963). One signed 'Douglas', another 'D. J.', and the other seven signed in full. All but one, which is addressed to 'Alan', addressed to 'Baxendale'. Eight on letterheads of the School of History, Birmingham University.

In fair condition, on aged paper, cut down to 18 x 25.5 cm (from the 24 x 35 cm of the British Museum copy), including a strip of around 1 cm high at the bottom carrying the caption (in which the 'N1' - more likely 'Ni' - appears to be an error), and with slight loss to two corners on removal from an album. The inscriptions carried by this copy vary from those on that in the British Museum, suggesting an earlier issue: as with the British Museum copy 'Cruikshank del.' is written beneath the illustration at bottom left, but this copy has 'Pubd by T Tegg 111 Cheapside London Sepr.

On one side of a 5 x 8 cm piece of paper, cut from a letter, and backed with card. In good condition, lightly-aged, with the top two corners rounded. Reads: 'I am | Gentlemen | Your very obed Sert | [signed] Geo Combe'.

43pp., 12mo. Closely written in a ruled black cloth notebook, titled on first page 'CHILDREN'S BOOK'. Internally in good condition, on lightly-aged paper; torn scraps of paper adhering to the waxed cloth covers. Containing such information as date and time of birth, weight of child, name of doctor and 'nurse-housemaid', teething ('R. J.s first eye-tooth'), first walk, first words ('R. J. said ("I'm a pe-pe" - this probably only imitation; since called himself Baby).

8pp., foolscap 8vo, single-spaced on eight sheets, in a mixture of laid and cartridge paper. An original typescript, and not a carbon copy., with a handful of typed corrections. In very good condition, lightly-aged with a couple of dogeared corners and minor staining from a rusty paperclip. 'The Varangs' Saga' chronicles the mock-heroic doings of characters based on Mitchison and her friends in 'Frankland' (i.e. France), in what is presented as a genuine Norse Saga, complete with 'Translator's note'. It is divided into thirteen parts: 'I.

2pp., folio. Tastefully printed in old-fashioned style on both sides of a sheet of thick wove 37 x 24.5 cm paper. Aged and worn, with chipping and closed tears to three edges. Inscribed by Mitchison at head of first page: 'Robert & Sylvia Lynd with best wishes from N. M. !' Twelve verses, followed by twelve pseud-scholarly 'Notes' (number 10 refers to a 'Prof. Bumpfendorf'). A topical political spoof, with the last verse reading: 'I'll sing you twelve, oh. | Pure Grow the Little Ones, | What is your twelve, oh?

A member of a distinguished Scottish family, Sir William Hamilton was possibly the longest-serving British consul of the nineteenth century. As the Pall Mall Gazette stated in an obituary (15 February 1877), he was ‘for upwards of half a century was her Majesty’s Consul at Boulogne-sur-Mer [...] Sir William entered the navy in 1803, and was a prisoner of war in France from 1805 to 1814. He was appointed Vice-Consul at Flushing and Middleburg in 1817; at Antwerp, and afterwards at Ostend, in 1818; at Nieuport, in 1820; and at Boulogne in 1822.

Address panel, c. 13 x 8cm, edges sl. ragged, mainlky good condition.The reverse is blank apart from remnants of glue for prior laying down, and the identification of John A. Murray as "Lord Advocate | M.P. Leith". The Bannatyne Club, founded by Sir Walter Scott, in 1823, disbanded 1861. David Laing "had an antiquarian turn, and was the first Secretary of the Bannantyne Club on its foundation on 27 February 1823. In 1826 he was elected a Fellow of The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He became Librarian of the Signet Library in 1837, gave up the bookshop and sold the stock.

The top part (11.5 x 12 cm) of a 12mo leaf with funeral border, evidently separated for an autograph hunter. In fair condition, on lightly-aged and ruckled paper. It reads: '<...> among us our ever increasing | I hope your work may obtain all the notice which it certainly appears to deserve, and I remain | dear Sir | Your very faithful servant, | [signed] W E Gladstone | D. Bryce Esq.'?>

Printed in grey half-tone on one side of a piece of 13 x 20.5 card. In fair condition: aged and a little grubby. With Gaelic-style lettering and design, with vignette engraving of Bishop's Castle in top right-hand corner. The words 'Mr & Miss Munro-Fraser' neatly added in manuscript. From the papers of the Hebridean folklorist Marjory Kennedy-Fraser and her daughter Patuffa.

In 1826 Lieut-Col. Alexander Mackenzie, eldest son of Colonel Robert Mackenzie of Milnmount, assumed the dormant baronetcies of Tarbat and Royston [ALEXANDERMACKENZIE OF ROYSTON CROMARTY TARBET GRANDVILLE.], despite their having been forfeited under attainder in 1763. On his death without issue in 1841 his only brother Sir James Sutherland Mackenzie also assumed the titles. He died unmarried and insane on the 24 November 1858. The claim to which the present documents relate does not appear to have been pursued, and the baronetcies have remained dormant.

The background to the collection is simply stated. On the death of the 15th Earl of Glencairn in 1796 the title became dormant. It was claimed by Fergusson (praised by Boswell but dismissed by Johnson as 'a vile Whig' and derided by Burns as 'aith-detesting chaste Kilkerran') as heir of the line of the 10th Earl. Fergusson's claim was opposed by Sir Walter Montgomery Cunningham of Corshill, as presumed heir male along with Lady Henriet Don, sister of the 15th Earl, and wife of Sir Alexander Don of Newton Don, Roxburghshire.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. On aged and lightly-creased paper, with one stain in margin. This offprint is scarce: the only copies on COPAC at the National Library of Scotland and St Andrews.

2pp., folio. In fair condition, on aged and lightly creased and chipped paper. The whole of the first page is filled in the same hand in two columns, with the first column beginning '4 Cops, 1 Peck, or "Sleek"; i.e. a sleekit peck - not a heaped one, as with potatoes or apples. | 4 pecks make 3 Imperial or Winchester bushels. | 1 Carlisle Bushel is 4. pks. 1 or 3 imp. Bushels.' The right-hand column begins: '1. Imp. Bush. of Barley weighs 56 lbs. The common sized cart will hold 24 pks. (or sleeks): or 18 Imp.

Both 2pp., 12mo, on bifoliums, and both good, on lightly-aged paper. Letter One: He is sorry Hammerton and his wife came back 'to a very cold & stormy time', but is glad that he could not 'inaugurate your History at present. I am too busy to do anything at it. Work only increases as the world grows older.' He gives the time of his setting of from London to 'Turkey via Bulgaria, hoping not to be shot on the way', and the address of Rev. Dr R. Frew, with whom he is staying in London. Letter Two: He thanks Hammerton 'for the S. Blake [a .

Mackenzie's letter is 1p., landscape 12mo. 16 lines. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with a crease to one corner. He thanks MP for his 'encouraging letter' and discusses his own 'silly slip about the Faery Queen's entrance' in a radio broadcast: 'I was so much concerned with giving listeners the difference between the O.P. and the Prompt side that it became a question of physician heal thyself.' He continues: 'I wasn't sure of the year Mille Le Garde [sic] sang that song. Probably '97. Rose Dering was the Aladdin. She was second boy. Ted Young was the Widow Twankey.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. In original envelope, with stamp, three postmarks and red wax seal, addressed by Southesk to 'John J. Baron Esq. | 48 Griffin Street | Wilton | Blackburn | England.' Unaware that Baron is a barefaced autograph hunter, he expresses regret that, having no copies of his own works to hand, he is 'unable to accede to the very gratifying request of the lady referred to by you, as desirous to have two verses of my poems, in my own handwriting'.

8pp., 12mo. On two bifoliums. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. With envelope, with Penny Red stamp and circular postmark in black ink ('B | LERWICK | 5 NO | 80'), addressed to 'The Revd. | C. W. Shepherd | Trosley Rectory | N Maidstone | Kent | England'. Balston and his companion on the trip Edward Bartlett would go on to collaborate with Shepherd on the 1907 publication 'Notes on the Birds of Kent'. The letter begins: 'Dear Shepherd | Here we are in the Arctic Regions, & it being Sunday & snowing fast, are not able to get out, so I sit down to spin you a yarn.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The letter reads: 'My dear Ella: | It wd be very kind if you cd come to see me as I have never recovered & am downstairs again. - Will you come to tea to-day or tomorrow. I want somebody to play with me!'