£1,500
Sammelband of 26 publications (full details below), mostly octavo, dated primarily between 1806 and 1848, in 19th-century half calf. Some folding edges protruding and slightly worn and soiled. Rubbed and worn, boards detached and backstrip lost. Two pages of manuscript contents list at front, several works with presentation inscriptions or addresses, all but one to Mr or Dr Grant.
A substantial sammelband of Scottish interest, not particularly coherent across the whole but with several themes - including the charity bequest of John Strachan of Craigcrook Castle, improvements of Edinburgh and Leith, and cholera epidemics - and liberally sprinkled with rarities, including several apparently unrecorded items and several more with one known copy. Most of the signs of provenance point to James Grant, minister of Liberton (1760-1831), ordained there 1789. But several included publications post-date his death so the volume could not have been bound for him.
1. Description of the Regalia of Scotland. 12mo, pp. 34. A scarce anonymous publication by Walter Scott (Todd & Bowden 134Aa). Scott himself had rediscovered the 'Honours of Scotland' - the Crown, Sceptre, and Sword of State - which had been smuggled out of Edinburgh Castle during Cromwell's occupation and later returned, but following the Act of Union they were locked away and their location forgotten. Scott petitioned the Prince Regent and in 1818 gained permission to force open sealed doors and a locked chest in Edinburgh Castle, finding the regalia perfectly preserved therein.
2. Davidson, W. Comparative Tables of the Local and Imperial Weights and Measures both in Quantity and Price. Glasgow: David Allan & Co., 1829. 12mo, pp. [ii], 32. Unrecorded in Library Hub.
3. Comparison of Weights and Measures: with notes relating to the Sterling Jug &c. 8vo, [ii], 37-44, 8, [2, table of barley prices]. Possibly a nonce-title-page; the 8-page pamphlet on the Stirling Jug located in Glasgow only in Library Hub.
4. Descriptive account of the Cartoons of Raffaelle; for the use of visitors to the exhibition of Sir James Thornhill's Copies of these Celebrated Works, in the Hall of the Royal Institution, Mound. Opened January, 1833. Edinburgh: Printed by James Colston. 8vo, pp. 22 + 7 plates.
5. An examination of the Letter addressed to Principal Hill, on the case of Mr. Leslie, in a letter to its anonymous author. Edinburgh: Printed by and for Mundell and Son, 1806. 8vo, pp. [ii], 82.
6. [Drop-head title:] The Life of Dr. Barclay. 8vo, pp. xix, [i]. Inscribed above the title 'For the Rev. Mr. Grant of Liberton, with Dr. Balingall's compliments'. This is the biography only extracted from the preliminaries to Barclay's 1827 Introductory Lectures to a Course of Anatomy.
7. Abercrombie, John. Address delivered in the hall of Marischal College, Aberdeen, 3rd November 1835, on occasion of his installation as Lord Rector of the University. Aberdeen: Alexander Brown and Co., 1835. 8vo, pp. 29, [1]. Inscribed 'With the author's best regards'.
8. Deed of Mortification by John Strachan of Craigcrook, dated the 24th September 1712, and recorded in the books of Council and Session the 4th August 1719. Single leaf, folded twice. Probably printed to accompany the 1794 edition of the Statutes concerning Strachan's bequest (see item 10 below).
9. Names and designations of Individuals on the Roll of Pensioners from the Craigcrook Mortification, for the annual sum of Five Pounds Sterling, as at Candlemass 1828. One bifolium, folded in half vertically, about half the names marked with an ink cross. Unrecorded in this form in Library Hub.
10. Statutes concerning the Management of the Mortification of the Deceased John Strachan of Craigcrook, Writer to the Signet. Edinburgh: Printed by P. Neill, 1821. 8vo, pp. 13, [1]. A later printing of the statutes, which probably did not originally come with the reproduction of the Deed bound before it. Library Hub locates only 1 copy of this printing, in Edinburgh.
11. An Historical Account of the Orphan Hospital of Edinburgh. Edinburgh: Printed by J. and C. Muirhead, 1833. 8vo, pp. 69, [1] + frontispiece and folding plan.
12. Anno Quarto & Quinto. Gulielmi IV. Regis. Cap. LXXXVIII. An Act for the more effectual Registration of Persons entitled to vote in the Election of Members to serve in Parliament in Scotland. [15th August 1834]. 8vo, pp. 2.
13. Reform of the University of Glasgow, considered with reference to the published report of the Royal Commissioners of Visitation appointed by Sir Robert Peel... Glasgow: Published by Richard Griffin & Co, 1835. 8vo, pp. 35, [1]. Some adhesion to gutter of title-page, rear blank page creased from folding with tax stamp and address 'The Revd. Dr. Grant, Edinburgh'. Probably by Thomas Clark.
14. Documents Relative to the Transaction between the Town Council of Edinburgh and the Commissioner for the Improvements for the purchase of an area in the Castle-Hill, for the Churches. Copies printed for the use of the Commissioners. Edinburgh: Printed by Thomas Allan, Jun. 1833. 8vo, pp. 39, [1]. Library Hub locates one copy only, in Oxford.
15. Statements Relative to the City of Edinburgh, shewing the practicability and necessity of, and containing proposals for, the Extension of the Royalty, Popular Election of the Town Council, [et al.] Edinburgh: John Anderson, Jun., 1833. 8vo, pp. 55, [1]. Library Hub locates one copy only, in Edinburgh.
16. Replies to Queries regarding the City Churches, proposed by the Committee of the Town Council to the Presbytery of Edinburgh. Edinburgh: Printed by A. Balfour, 1834. 8vo, pp. 23, [1]. Final corners torn from seal adhesion, foot of last page annotated 'The above is a true copy of the queries proposed by the Town Council and of the Replies by the Presbytery of Edinburgh. John Gilchrist, Edinburgh' (partly cropped) and the verso addressed in a different hand 'Robert Bell Esq. advocate, St Andrews Square'.
17. Report of the Treasurer's Committee, to the Town Council, Respecting the Ecclesiastical Revenues of the City of Edinburgh. (Approved of by the Magistrates and Council, 17th February 1835.) 8vo, pp. 20. Head of first leaf inscribed 'Revd Dr. Grant'.
18. Labouchere, Henry. Report to the Right Honourable the Chancellor of the Exchequer, regarding the Affairs of the City of Edinburgh and Port of Leith. Edinburgh: Printed by Thomas Allan & Company, 1836. 8vo, pp. 25, [1].
19. Papers Relating to the Noxious Effects of the Fetid Irrigations around the City of Edinburgh. Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black, 1839. 8vo, pp. 94.
20. Anno Septimo Victoriae Reginae. Cap. VII. An Act to amend an Act passed in the Third Year of the Reign of Her present Majesty, for abolishing certain Petty and Market customs in the City of Edinburgh, and granting other Duties in lieu thereof. [10th May 1844.] 8vo, pp. 7, [1].
21. Leith Harbour & Docks. Plans and Reports, by J. Walker Esq., & W. Cubitt, Esq., for the Improvement of Leith Harbour; and Treasury inutes, and other Documents connected therewith. Edinburgh: Printed by A. Murray, 1839. 8vo, pp. 34 + 3 folding plans.
22. Marshall, William. Further Considerations on the State and Prospects of Leith. Second edition. Edinburgh: Adam & Charles Black, 1848. 8vo, pp. 68 + folding frontispiece plan, handcoloured. Library Hub locates one copy, in the NLS, where the folding plan is not mentioned.
23. An Act to Abolish, Reduce, Equalize, and Consolidate the Rates and Duties leviable at the Harbour and Docks of Leith. [8th June 1847]. 8vo, pp. 13, [1].
24. Statement by the Committee of Management of The Royal Association for the Promotion of the Fine Arts in Scotland... May 1848. Edinburgh: Printed by Thomas Constable. 8vo, pp. [ii], 43, [1]. Not recorded in Library Hub in this form.
25. Bell, G. Hamilton. Practical Observations on the Nature and Treatment of Cholera. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1848. 8vo, pp. 12.
26. Goverment Regulations for the Prevention of Cholera. Edinburgh: Andrew Murray, 1848. 12mo, pp. 16. Library Hub locates one copy only, in Glasgow.
