£120
8vo signed in 4s, pp. [ii], 131, [1] + folding frontispiece. Near-contemporary half black roan, marbled boards, spine lettered vertically in gilt, edges sprinkled red. Some spotting and toning, worm-trails to top margin. Somewhat soiled, worn to extremities, hinges starting. Purchase inscription to half-title ‘J. Mowbray, Hartwood. Paid 1 June 1837.’
A large part of sheriff and agriculturalist William Aiton's (1760-1847) book is devoted to separation of fact and fiction in Scott's Old Mortality, published in 1816. Aiton has a grudging respect for Scott's treatment of the historical record, writing in his introduction that 'he has not been able to charge the Writer of that Novel with any material distortion of the true characters of the men or the parties he has brought upon the stage,' but lamenting that 'he has blended the occurrences of that violent period, with some love scenes, that seem to be out of place, and are rather extraneous.'
With a later printed transcription of a 'curious document respecting the battle of Drumclog' bound in preceding the half-title.
