John. Theatrum Scotiae. Containing the prospects of Their Majesties castles and palaces: together with those of the most considerable towns and colleges; the ruins of many ancient abbeys, churches, mo

by SLEZER

£6,000 · Offered by Henry Sotheran Ltd

SLEZER, John. Theatrum Scotiae. Containing the prospects of Their Majesties castles and palaces: together with those of the most considerable towns and colleges; the ruins of many ancient abbeys, churches, monasteries and convents, within the said kingdom… London: Abell Swalle. 1693. Folio. Contemporary mottled calf, spine gilt in compartments, lettered directly in one, gilt edges; pp. [10], 65, [1], bound without “Prospects” and “End of Prospects” leaves, title page printed in red and black with engraved Royal arms of Scotland, 57 copper engraved double page plates (on guards), engraved in-text coat of arms, woodcut initials; skilfully rebacked retaining the original spine, spine and boards a little rubbed; light scattered foxing throughout mainly affecting text leaves, occasional light offsetting, small paper flaw to margin of plate 52 (far from printed area), tiny worm hole to inner margin of S1 (not touching text), but generally a very good, clean copy; near contemporary armorial bookplate of John Anstruther to verso of title (see below); bookplate of Wolfgang Metzner (1909-1992), publisher, to front pastedown. First edition of the first pictorial survey of Scotland, with a remarkable Scottish provenance. John Slezer (1650-1717), a German military engineer who became a Scottish army officer and surveyor for William and Mary, produced this book for the new monarchs partly as a census and partly as a celebration of the great buildings of their northern kingdom. Drawing on t

• Binding: Hardcover

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