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Menzies, John (illus.).
The Traveller's Guide through Scotland, and its Islands.
Publisher: Printed by J. Pillans & Son, Edinburgh;
Date of Publication: 1818
Stock Code: 15160
Seventh edition. Duodecimo, two volumes, pp., [2], 300; 295, [1] blank verso. Large folding map of Scotland to front of vol. 1, plus 16 maps copper-engraved maps (of which 2 are folding) by John Menzies, and 14 views on 5 engraved plates (the plate index numbers the maps of the roads from Edinburgh to Carlisle, and of the railway from Berwick to Kelso as one plate each - they are both 2 plates); volume 2 with large folding map of Loch Catherine and Loch Lomond dedicated to Walter Scott to front, plus 14 engraved maps (of which 4 are folding), as called for. Uniformly bound in contemporary full polished calf, titled in gilt to black leather spine label, rolls and double-fillets in blind to boards; all edges sprinkled blue. Armorial bookplate of one of the Barons Newborough to front paste-down. Joints cracked but spines holding well, corners slightly rubbed. Toning, spotting, and minor scattered foxing throughout, finger-wear to corners of a few pages with tear to corners of p. 255 in vol. 1, closed tear to folding map to front of vol. 1, and a few ink-spots to folding map to front of vol. 2. A complete, unrestored set in a contemporary binding A topographical account of Scotland, arranged by county, which includes detailed descriptions of golf as a characteristically Scottish sport before it gained global popularity. In his accounts of Edinburgh, Haddington, and North Berwick, the author discusses golf as ‘a game peculiar to Scotland’ (p. 34), and briefly describes the playing of the sport on fields near the towns. While golf had been played in Scotland since the fifteenth century, it was not until the mid-nineteenth century that the sport would gain popularity outside of its native land. Travel guides such as this played a role in the popularisation of tourism to Scotland, and consequently the spread of golf more widely. The engraver of many of the maps and views in this set, John Menzies (1772-1857) would go on to be recognised for his steel-engraved views of Edinburgh, and his series of travel guides to Scotland published under his name. The copper-plate engravings here comprise some of his earlier works. Too many copies of this book have gone under the map collector’s knife; sets complete with all the map are uncommon. £350.00