Kilrounie (pseud. [ John R. Russell.]) The kingdom. A descriptive and historical hand-book to Fife. With ... map and Illustrations
Cupar: A Westwood & Son. First Edition. Cloth. Good. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall (1880) folding map,illustrated pages 140 ads in original red gilt dec soft cloth (Book ref. 14926) £98.00
Blakeley Commander T HMS Fife 1962-1987 The Last Operational County Class Guided Missile Destroyer
CPC Reprographics, 1987. First Edition. Original Card. Very Good. 70pp, large format, large photo of ship on front cover, listing of ships of the class, commanding officers, HMS Fife - chronicle of events, very good and scarce (Book ref. AB006556) £45.00
Millar, A. H. Fife : Pictorial and Historical; Its People, Burghs, Castles, and Mansions.(Volumes I and II - Complete in 2 volumes)
Cupar-Fife: A. Westwood and Son, 1895. Illustrated by Various. First Edition. Green Cloth. Very Good/No Jacket. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" Large Z A lovely two volume set of this scarce history of Fife. Bound in two large 4to. volumes bound in their original publisher's green cloth. The green cloth embossed in gilt to the spines and to the front boards. Each front board with a vignette of a knight on a horse. Each volume has bevelled edges. Upper edges gilt. Others rough cut. Both volumes are tightly bound. Each have brown endpapers. Volume 2 has a pouch bound in at the rear with 3 loose maps inserted as called for. The text is supported by numerous illustrations - engravings, photographic reproductions and line drawings. Volume one has a frontispiece, a tissue-guarded engraved (and charming) title page and an additional title page. No inscriptions. Both volumes have light rubbing to some of the board corners. Volume one has several scratches to the rear board with very slight loss of cloth to one or two of them. There is also a slightly open split to the outer spine hinge of around 1.8cm in length. There are two vertical creases to the rear endpaper of volume one. Both upper corners of volume two are bumped. Some fox-spots to the fore-edges and the outer margins of a few leaves. A 7cm tear to the edge of the rear map pouch has been expertly repaired - as has a 2cm tear. Light toning to the margins of a couple of the maps. A lovely two volume set of this scarce work. (Book ref. 228002) £450.00
Mackay, AE. J. G. A Sketch of the History of Fife and Kinross : A Study in Scottish History and Character
Edinburgh: William Blackwood & Sons, 1890. Illustrated by N/a. First Edition. Burgundy Cloth. Good/No Jacket. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall ix,268, 24 (ads.) 1890. First edition. A good copy in original publisher's burgundy cloth. Gilt embossed title to the spine and to the front board with a vignette to the front board of a knight on a horse. Bevelled boards. A significant stain to the rear cloth board along with a couple of small ones - measuring 5cm x 3cm. A small rub mark to the cloth mid way up outer spine with slight loss. Former owner's bookplate of an Alan Forgan to the front paste-down. Staining to page 7 - almost certainly from rear board dye - connected to the aforementioned stain. A very few, very light finger soil marks to the text. The gilt to the spine a little faint. A good, tight copy of a scarce book in original publisher's cloth. (Book ref. 227984) £30.00
de Saint Fond, Barthelemy Faujas; Geikie, Sir Archibald (ed) A Journey Through England and Scotland to the Hebrides in 1784
Glasgow: Hugh Hopkins, 1907 Limited edition of 450 copies. Two vols green cloth, gilt, 7 plates, index Pagination: xxxii, 356; ix, 373. An account of a journey through Scotland by an 18th-century French traveller with particular emphasis on geology and industry. Contents: London; Sir Joseph Banks; Doctor Whitehurst; Cavallo; Doctor Letsom; Sheldon; Royal Society; British Museum; Sir Joseph Banks' country house; The observatory of William Herschel, near Windsor; His large telescopes; Miss Caroline Herschel, his sister; Arts and manufactures; Philosophical and mathematical instruments; Monument to the fire of London; Quakers; Some cabinets of natural history;S ir Henry Englefield; Preparations for the journey to Scotland and the Isle of Staffa; Departure for Scotland; Itinerary; Observations of natural history; Newcastle; its manufactures; Its coal mines; Departure from Newcastle; Itinerary; Basaltic lavas; Traps; Porphyries; Fine rock of trap at Dodmill, near Thirleston; Traps of different colours near Channelkirk Inn; Doctor Sweiaur; Prestonpans, its manufactories and excellent oysters; Great iron foundry of Carron; Stirling; Departure from Edinburgh; Livingston; Moorhead Craigs; Prisms of basalt; Heartshill; Ball of basalt; Compact lavas; Peat; Pit coal; Glasgow; Natural history; Departure from Glasgow; Dumbarton; Volcanic substances; Loch Lomond; Luss; Tarbet; Loch Fyne; Inverary; Duke of Argyll's castle; Its parks and gardens; Natural history; Departure from Inverary; Arrival at Dalmally; Scotch Highlanders, their dress; Ancient tombs; Patrick Fraser; Reception at the house of Macnab, who possesses several fragments of the poems of Ossian; Manner in which the habitations of the Highlanders are warmed and lighted; Their usages; The circle or altar of the druids; Departure from Dalmally; Loch Awe; Rocks of micaceous schist; Porphyries; Bonawe; Druidical monument or cairn; Christian cross in stone, very ancient; Night surprises us on the road; A violent storm drenches us; We lose our way at midnight; One of our chaises overturned in the bed of a stream; Amusing adventure with an old miller; Reach Oban at half past one in the morning; Natural history of the environs of Oban; Departure from Oban for the island of Mull; Passage of the Sound of Mull; Small isle of Fiart; Druidical monuments; Arrival at Aros; Journey from Aros to Torloisk; Stay at Mr Maclean's; Tale of what happened to my fellow travellers duyring their passage to and continuance on the Isle of Staffa; Voyage to Staffa; Description and natural history of the Isle of Staffa; General views; Stay at Mr Maclean's; Customs and manners of the inhabitants of the Isle of Mull; Departure from Torloisk; Stay at Aros; Visit to two worthy farmers, the brothers Stuart of Aros; Excursion to the mountain of Ben More, the highest in the Isle of Mull; Stop at Mr Campbell's, of Knock; His agricultural operations; The curious lavas which his clearings have brought to light; Departure from Aros for Auchnacraig; Natural history of the Island of Mull; The Isle of Kerrera; Departure from Oban; Dalmally; Tyndrum; Leaa Ore; Killin; River mussels containing pearls; Description of these pearls and their origin; Kenmore; Extraordinary flux and reflux of Loch Tay; Perth, its harbour and manufactures; Mr M'Comie, teacher of mathematics; Mr McGregor, teacher of the French language at the Academy; Volcanic mountain of Kinnoul; The agates found there; St Andrews; University; Library; Old churches; Natural history; Departure from St Andrews; Largo; Leven; Dysart; Kirkcaldy; Kinghorn; Leith; Return to Edinburgh; Edinburgh; The University; Learned societies; College of Physicians; College of Surgeons; Cabinets of natural history; Robertson; Smith; Black; Cullen; Departure from Edinburgh; Itinerary to Manchester; Natural history; Manchester; Doctor Henry, his cabinet; Cotton manufactures; Messrs Thomas and Benjamin Potter; Charles Taylor; Departure from Manchester; Buxton, its mineral waters, fine baths constructed on a plan of Carr, at the expense of the Duke of Devonshire, the proprietor of the waters; Dr Pearson; Manufacture of vases and other articles in fluor spar of different colours; Cave of Poole's Hole; Toadstone composed of a basis of trap, interspersed with grains of calcareous spar, presenting prismatic contraction as in basalt, though not the work of fire as the latter is; Castleton; Description of a fine cavern; Mines of lead and calamine, veins of fluor spar; Lead found in channel or cat-dirt; Derby; Richard Brown, dealer in objects of natural history; A manufacture of vases and other works in fluor spar; Departure from Derby; Arrival at Birmingham, its numerous manufactures; Doctor Withering; James Wattl Doctor Priestley; His house; His library; His chemical laboratory; Departure from Birmingham; Coventry; Warwick; Oxford; Saint Albans; Barnet; London; Return to France. Book: extremities bumped, boards sl scratched, prelims a little dusty, few pages unopened, margins occasionally sl dusty or sl foxed, VG, Jacket: n/a (Book ref. 3161) £56.00
Murray, Robert F; Lang, Andrew (memoir); Baxter, J H (ed) The Scarlet Gown, Being Verses by A St Andrews Man
St Andrews: W C Henderson, 1954 Reprint. Red cloth, gilt, frontis Pagination: xxxix, 203. Robert Murray was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts and moved to Kelso at the age of 6. He went to St Andrews University and fell in love with the town, moving to Edinburgh in 1889 and dying in 1893 aged 30. Introduction by Andrew Lang. Book: head/tail sl bumped, endpapers partly lightly browned, VG+, Jacket: unclipped, partly sunned, a little dusty, light edge wear, VG (Book ref. 3136) £13.00
Campbell, James Dykes Balmerino and its Abbey, A Parochial History
Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1867 First edition. Brown cloth, gilt, frontis, index Pagination: xviii, 433. First edition of this scarce, comprehensive history of Balmerino in Fife and the abbey, with much of interest to local historians and genealogists (including outline genealogies of the landed proprietors). Contents: History of the parish previous to the foundation of the Abbey (AD 1229) (Prehistoric period; Celtic period; Change from the Gaelic to the English language; Ancient estate, chapel and castle of Naughton; Ancient proprietors and church of Balmerino); History of the Abbey (The monastic system; The Cistercian monks; Monastic buildings and builders; Foundation of the Abbey: Abbot St Alan; Abbots Ralph, John I and Adam I; Abbots Adam II, William de Perisby, and Thomas; Abbots William II, Alan II, Hugh, John de Haylis and Richard; Abbot Robert; Dissolution of the monastery; The commendators: John Hay, Henry and John Kinneir, and Robert Auchmouty, the Abbacy erected into a temporal lordship; What became of the Abbey Church; Existing ruins of the Abbey); History of the Protestant ministers and church ( Mr Archibald Keith, Mr Patrick Auchinleck; Mr Thomas Douglas; Mr Walter Greig; Mr Andrew Bruce, Mr James Gairns; Mr George Hay, Mr John Auchterlony; Mr Andrew Bowie, Mr James Hay; Mr Thomas Ker, Mr Thomas Stark, Mr John Stark, Mr Andrew Thomson, Mr John Thomson); History of the principal families (The lairds of Naughton (the Hays; the Crichtons and Balfours of Naughton; the Hays of Naughton; The Morisons of Naughton); The lairds of Balmerino (The Elphinstones, Barons Balmerino; The Earls of Moray; and Stuarts of Balmerino); The Crichtons of Bottomcraig; The Starks of Ballindean; The Balfours of Grange; The lairds of Birkhill (the Lesleys and Learmonths; the Dicks, Carnegies and Alisons; The Scrymgeour-Wedderburns of Birkhill)); Concluding chapter; Appendices. Book: extremities bumped and a little rubbed, a little wrinkling to covers, endpapers cracked but secure, owner signature, prelims foxed, VG, Jacket: n/a (Book ref. 3078) £79.00
Rush, Christopher Peace Comes Dropping Slow
Edinburgh: Ramsay Head Press, 1990 Reprint [First 1983]. Paperback Pagination: vi, 172. This is the first paperback edition of Peace Comes Dropping Slow, Christopher Rush’s first book of short stories in which he explores the rich character of the East Neuk of Fife. There is no lack in these tales of that classical sense of horror and pity, of the macabre and the humorous; but there is also an urgent contemporary concern. Several stories reveal the hidden tensions which operate in these seaside villages and farms. If the sea is everywhere, so is religion, and the kirk steeples of the East Neuk stand out sharply above the graveyards whose stones have so much to tell. The entire collection finds universal themes emerging from local life.. Book: corners of covers a little bumped, VG, Jacket: n/a (Book ref. 3061) £8.00
Macquarrie, Alan The Saints of Scotland, Essays in Scottish Church History AD 450-1093
Edinburgh: John Donald, 1997 First edition. Paperback, bibliography, index Pagination: xi, 258. This is a scholarly examination of some of the major figures from the period known as The Age of the Saints, and the stories and legends which were told about them. Such legends are of considerable interest to historians, but these documents also have a more universal quality. If men are striving to be good, they need examples of goodness to be set before them. Whatever other motives they may also have had, the writers of saints’ lives portrayed their heroes above all as good and holy men; and their holiness and goodness can still be an inspiration today. Contents: Introduction: the hagiography of medieval Scotland; Before the saints; St Patrick of Ireland; St Ninian of Whithorn; St Columba of Iona (Hinba; The Battles of Aedan mac Gabrain); St Kentigern of Glasgow [St Mungo]; St Serf of Fife; St Adomnan of Iona: St Maelrubai of Applecross; St Brigit, St Peter, St Andrew and St Constantine; St Catroe of Metz; St Margaret of Scotland; Conclusions. Book: corners of covers v sl bumped, VG+, Jacket: n/a (Book ref. 3053) £12.00
Fife, Malcolm The Nor Loch, Scotland's Lost Loch
Lancaster: Scotforth, 2004 Reprint. Paperback, bw ills, maps, bibliography Pagination: 192. Scotland’s lochs are famous the world over, many of them imbued with myths and legends. But there is one loch that cannot be found on any current map, a man-made expanse of water that filled the space that is now occupied by Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh.<P>The Nor Loch (or the North Loch as it was originally known) was created to enhance the defences of the city and its castle. Its history was bound up with many of the events which shaped Scotland’s history. As well as its defensive and recreational roles, the Nor Loch also played host to much darker happenings. Witches and wizards were thrown into the loch, with survivors being burned on its banks. Fornicators, crooked tradesmen and drunks were among the felons who received a ducking, while the gruesome discovery of a chest full of bones when the loch was drained is evidence of another, particularly unpleasant punishment.<P>Although the loch is no longer there, the four hundred years of its existence have provided Edinburgh author Malcolm Fife with what is a truly fascinating story. Pictures both old and modern illustrate his well researched text, and this unusual publication really does make excellent reading for locals and visitors alike.. Book: hint of bumping to corners, VG+, Jacket: n/a (Book ref. 3010) £9.00
Brown, Ivor Summer in Scotland
London: Collins, 1952 First edition. Blue cloth, gilt, map endpapers, index Pagination: 320. Summer in Scotland, like its predecessor Winter in London, which pleased so many Londoners, resident or dispersed, is written neither as a guidebook nor as a series of disconnected essays. It is the record of a Scot, born in Malaya and working in London, who loves and knows his native country. There he has returned for many summers, and this book is the result of his journeys, reflections and delights. With him we wander round the country, through the towns, over moors and hills, dip into the past and explore the present. No travelling companion could be more catholic in his tastes, more widely and humanely knowledgable about the history and the literature, the qualities and the humours of the places that he visits, than Ivor Brown.<P>To those unlucky people who have never been to Scotland this book provides good reasons for making a visit now. Those of us who are already addicts will finish the book with a sigh at our own ignorance and with gratitude that it should have been so delightfully alleviated. Moreover it is a book that excites the imagination and demands that the reader follow the author in his enthusiasm. Scotland means many things to many people; and whatever their nationality, they will find their Scotland, be it sporting or aesthetic, literary or historical, vividly and lightly portrayed in the pages of this book. Contents: Far corner; In the dead vast; Charles’s country; Banff and barley; Granite and getting on [Aberdeen]; Angus and the authors; Royal Deeside; Bed and board [Pitlochry]; Perthshire and power; Sands of pleasure [St Andrews]; The conspicuous town [Edinburgh]; Ayr and song; Glasgow and Clyde; Border and ballad. Book: extremities a little bumped, endpapers v sl browned, prize label [A W Morrison, Epsom College, 1952], VG, Jacket: spine sunned, extremities a little rubbed, rear cover foxed, VG- (Book ref. 3009) £14.00
Wood, Rev Walter The East Neuk of Fife: Its History and Antiquities, Geology, Botany and Natural History in General
Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1862 First edition. Limp green cloth, yapp edges, gilt Pagination: vi, 388. Scarce first edition of this excellent book about the East Neuk of Fife. With an extensive section giving summary genealogies of prominent families Contents: Includes pedigrees of the following families: Merleswain; Lundie of that Ilk; Lundin of Auchtermairnie; Anstruther of that Ilk; Balcaskie of that Ilk; Strang of Balcaskie; Abercrombie of that Ilk; Abercrombie of Balcormo; Hay and Balcomie of Balcomie; Oliphant of Kellie; Strang of Pitcorthie; Melville of Carnbee; Moncrieff of Carnbee; Moncrieff of Balcaskie; Earl of March and Dunbar; Durie of that Ilk; Dishington of Ardross; Wemyss of Rires; Forbes of Rires; Gourlay of Kincraig; Cunningham of Barns; Spens of Wormiston; Bethune of Balfour; Beethune of Creich and Nether Rires; Huntar of Balcarres, Newton Rires and Over Carnbee; Wood of Largo; Forrester of Gibliston; Martin of Giblison; Sandilands of St Monans; Borthwick of Balhouffie; Borthwick of Easter Grangemuir; Spens of Lathallan; Lumisdaine of Airdrie; Duddingston of Sandford; Learmonth of Balcomie; Myrton of Cambo; Auchmutie of that Ilk; Auchmutie, Portioner of Drumeldrie; Bellenden of Kilconquhar; Alexander, Portioner of Drumeldrie; Mitchell, Portioner of Drumeldrie; Finlay, Portioner of Balchrystie and Newton Rires; Lundie of Strathairlie; Inglis of Caiplie; Wood of Grange; Young of Eastfield and Seaton; Nairne of Newton Rires; Scott of Ardross; Lindsay, Earl of Balcarres; Preston of Airdrie; Scott of Scotstarvit; Lindsay of Wormiston; Fairfoul of Wester Lathallan; Gibson of Durie; Gillespie of Kirkton; Erskine Earl of Kellie; Leslie Lord Newark; Lumisdaine of Innergelly; Durham of Largo; Erskine of Cambo; Hamilton of Kynbrachmont; Carstairs of Kilconquhar; Bethune of Kilconquhar; Smith of Gibliston; Patullo of Balhouffie; Scott of Balmounth; Malcolm of Grange; Craigie of Dumbarnie; Anstruther of Balcaskie; Thomson of Charlton; Anstruther of Newark; Dalyell of Lingo; Arnot of Balcormo; Johnston of Rennyhill; Christie of Durie; Lindsay of Balcarres; Trotter of Westville. Book: head a little rubbed, endpapers stained to lower edge, spreading slightly to first few leaves, prelims a little dusty and sl foxed, VG, Jacket: n/a (Book ref. 3007) £128.00
Batsford, Harry; Fry, Charles; Buchan, John (foreword); Cook, Brian (illus) The Face of Scotland
London: Batsford, Winter 1947-48 Fifth edition. Red cloth, col frontis, 115 illustrations on plates, line drawings, four maps, index Pagination: x, 117. Superb photography in this typical quality Batsford production. Quoting John Buchan from his foreword: ""... a book which describes the beauties of Scotland with enthusiasm and understanding, and also with knowledge and sobriety ... some of the finest specimens of the photographic art that I have seen."" Contents: Highlands and Islands (Introduction to the Highlands; Some Perthshire lochs and glens; The eastern Grampians and their valleys; Glen Mor and the Inverness-shire glens; The far north and outer islands; The Hebrides and the Western Highlands); Lowlands and Uplands (The Borders and the Southern Uplands; The Lowland belt; Galloway; Fife and Angus); A Note on Scottish Buildings. Maps: Fife, Angus, Perthshire and the Grampian Country; The Far North; The Western Highlands and the Inner Hebrides; The Southern Uplands and Central Lowlands. Book: spine a little sunned, extremities sl rubbed, gift inscription, minor surface scratching to boards, contents VG+ boards VG- overall VG, Jacket: n/a (Book ref. 2878) £13.00
Bell, J J; Mackenzie, Compton (foreword) The Glory of Scotland
London: Harrap, [Jun] 1932 First edition. Terracotta cloth, col frontis, 32 bw plates, index, foldout map Pagination: 403. Contents: Contents: Edinburgh; The Pentlands, Linlithgow, East Lothian; The Borders; Fife; Glasgow, The Trossachs, The Clyde; Stirling; Ayrshire, Galloway, Dumfries; A day in the west; Oban, Mull, Staffa, Iona, Glencoe; The heart of Scotland; Angus and Kincardineshire; Aberdeen and the north-east; The Great Glen to Inverness; To the islands of the west; The far north. Illustrations: Galloway and the southern highlands of Scotland; Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street Gardens; Princes Street, looking west; The Palace of Holyroodhouse; Linlithgow Palace and Loch; Neidpath Castle, Peebles; Abbotsford from the Tweed; The Tweed and Cheviot Hills, Coldstream; Jedburgh Abbey from the river; Hermitage Castle, Roxburghshire; Falkland Palace; St Andrews : Church of St Salvator, now the University Chapel; On the links at St Andrew; Glasgow University from Kelvingrove Park; Loch Lomond; The Clyde from above Gourock; Stirling Castle; Caerlaverock Castle, Dumfriesshire; An old cottage in the Western Highlands; The parallel roads of Glen Roy; Loch Shiel, Prince Charlie’s monument; Glencoe in winter; The Tay at Aberfeldy; The pass of Killiecrankie; In old Aberdeen; Aberdeen : Brig o’ Balgownie; Braemar and the Cairngorms; The harbour, Macduff, Banffshire; Glen Shiel and Loch Cluanie, Ross-shire; Loch Duich and the Five Sisters of Kintail; In Glen Affric, Inverness-shire; Castle Moil, Kyleakin, Skye; Loch Coruisk, Skye. Book: spine a little dulled, neat owner inscription, contents crisp and clean, contents Near-Fine boards VG, Jacket: n/a (Book ref. 2874) £14.00
Herkless, John, ; Hannay, Robert Kerr: ''The Archbishops of St Andrews. Vol. 5''.
William Blackwood and Sons (Edinburgh) 1915. 268pp. Blue cloth. VG. [this volume describes in detail the life and times of John Hamilton who was hanged in 1571. He was the last in the series of the old Roman Catholic Archbishops]. (Book ref. 4978) £20.00
Herkless, John ; Hannay, Robert Kerr: ''The Archbishops of St Andrews. Vol. 2.''.
William Blackwood and Sons (Edinburgh) 1909. 267pp. Blue cloth. VG. Presentation copy signed by senior author. [this volume describes in detail the life and times of Andrew Forman who died in 1522]. (Book ref. 4976) £20.00
Herkless, John ; Hannay, Robert Kerr: ''The Archbishops of St Andrews. Vol. 1''.
William Blackwood and Sons (Edinburgh) 1907. 271pp. Blue cloth. VG. Presentation copy signed by senior author. [this volume covers in detail the lives and times of Patrick Graham, William Schevez, James Stewart and Alexander Stewart]. (Book ref. 4975) £20.00
Herkless, John ; Hannay, Robert Kerr: ''The Archbishops of St Andrews. Vol 3.''.
William Blackwood and Sons (Edinburgh) 1910. ix + 270pp. Blue cloth. VG. Presentation copy signed by senior author. [this volume describes in detail the life and times of James Beaton who died in 1539]. (Book ref. 4977) £20.00
Anderson, James Maitland: ''The University of St Andrews. A Historical Sketch''.
Fife Herald (Cupar) 1878. 88pp; appendix listing publications of the Principals and Professors. Brown cloth. Ex- college library. VG. Scarce. [13 articles which first appeared in successive issues of the 'Fife Herald' and 'St Andrews Citizen' in 1878]. (Book ref. 5231) £60.00
Alumnus Association of the University of St Andrews (Publisher): ''Echoes Re-Echoed. An Anthology of St Andrews University Verse, 1860-1914''.
St Andrews 1934 157pp + index of first lines + index of authors. Blue cloth. VG in dustwrapper. (Book ref. 4243) £12.00