£200
2 vols., 4to, pp. [ii], cxxvii, [i], 92; [ii], 93-209, [1], ci, [15] + 2 engraved title-pages and 93 plates containing 95 images. Modern half speckled calf, marbled boards, spines divided by raised bands between double gilt rules, black morocco labels, 4th compartments lettered in gilt direct, edges speckled red. Scattered spotting, some offsetting from plates. Binding a touch marked,
The first edition of The Border Antiquities, which was noted by Scott himself to be a 'foolishly conducted publication' that 'must be given up'. The bibliography of these volumes is complex: This copy has no watermarks and plates on cartridge paper, which would suggest the issue delineated by Todd and Bowden to be the 4th printing, printed between 1823-26. Per Todd and Bowden, from the 3rd printing onwards 'the contributor is generally styled "Sir Walter Scott"' but on the title-pages here he is not accorded his title. Listings claiming 96 total plates are based on the plate list, which has 96 entries, including four smaller illustrations that appear in pairs across two plates. There is also one plate unaccounted for in the list, but usually found.
