Rob Roy miniature book, tartan bound

[Silent Raven]

so for my birthday my soon-to-be-mother-in-law gave me a copy of "Rob Roy; and the story of the Clan Alpine" its a very old book, i cant find a print date but there is a note on the first blank page, saying that it was a gift with the date "1913" and "Glasgow Scotland" written in it. the book is tartan bound, though I'm not sure what tartan it is, the front is more damaged than the back. but anywho i was just hoping that some one might be able to tell me more about this book. Print date? Value? how many were made etc.. i do plan on reading it, very carefully! my soon-to-be-mother-in-law said that it belonged to her grandfather, so i don't really have any plans to sell it, just enjoy it.

[Tobus]

Wow, what a treasure!

A Google search on William Henry Oliphant Smeaton shows that he was a Scottish author, born 1856, died 1914. He has a number of works, although this particular book does not seem to be listed in his published works for some reason.

I would think that this particular work would be listed amonst the Famous Scots series, but it isn't.

However, since the page you showed says that he's the same author who wrote The Story of Edinburgh, and it was published in 1904, I would tend to think that this one was originally published some time after that (say, 1905-1914).

You might be able to dig up more information online with some more searching than I've done.

*edited to add:

Apparently Amazon has a couple of them available (used), and they are only worth about $8.50. I also see a publishing date of 1920, though it doesn't seem to be confirmed.

I also see references of it being part of the "Thistle Library", which was a series of tartan-bound miniature books. Might try searching for that too. (Which I now see in your pics, though your fingers are covering up the Thistle Library reference.)

[Silent Raven]

Thanks Tobus! i did end up seeing those on amazon last night after i had posted this. its interesting that this book is not listed among the others that he has done. and yes it is indeed a treasure!

I am worried about the cover eventually falling off, afew strands fell off last night, ill probably keep it in a plastic bag to help protect it.

Is there a book doctor in the house?!

[Paul Henry]

Thanks Tobus! i did end up seeing those on amazon last night after i had posted this. its interesting that this book is not listed among the others that he has done. and yes it is indeed a treasure!

I am worried about the cover eventually falling off, afew strands fell off last night, ill probably keep it in a plastic bag to help protect it.

Is there a book doctor in the house?!

I've got an almost similar one on my shelves at home, I;m not there now, so when I am there next I will take a picture and post it as well.
These sorts of books were very popular souvenir/tourist/gift books , and were not really very expensive .

The preservation of these and similar books is not easy, but please DO NOT keep it in a plastic bag, gently wrapped in acid free tissue and then in a cardboard bx is the best way as the pages can still breathe, and any dampness will not be trapped.

The fabric is silk, and I'm sorry to say that there isn't a lot you can do about the detoriation, the paper isn't best quality either , sorry, it's a very common problem with Victorian and early 20th century books,as no one was very concerned about quality , but quantity was the bog thing.
I'm often asked to repair old bibles, and most of the time is it uneconomic financially, although very valuble in an historical/family sense, so I will then make a good box to keep the book in , and then at least all the pages will not be lost or further damaged.
I'm happy to talk to you further about this is you would like, just send me a message.
Nonetheless it is a nice book, and worth preserving.

And just as an aside, I often make books with tartan covers for some of my kilt clients,or indeed for a client of another Kiltmaker ( Lady Crystel)

[Paul Henry]

rather slow in getting the pictures taken,it's fairly fragile, but once I get a little bit of silk tartan I'll re make the coverand resew everything so it's properly usable again, until then it will go back into it;s little box

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Silent Raven,

I cannot add much about the book itself that our resident bookbinder has not already said. But I can identify the red tartan on the cover as the Scott tartan.

Paul, I would ID the tartan on your book cover as MacKenzie.

[Paul Henry]

Silent Raven,

I cannot add much about the book itself that our resident bookbinder has not already said. But I can identify the red tartan on the cover as the Scott tartan.

Paul, I would ID the tartan on your book cover as MacKenzie.

Agreed!!

[thescot]

I can't add much at this time, but I did enjoy the OP and subsequent posts. I have a penchant for miniature books and manuscripts, and I have a nice, new copy of Burns poems I keep near by and take to the Supper each year.

I understand that the word itself, miniature, only came to mean small after so many small medieval manuscript books were made. It origianlly came from Latin minimum meaning red lead and referred to small pictures in illuminated manuscripts.

[thescot]

P.S. I did find this little posting on Amazon. It gives a 1920 publication date and sells for 10 bucks.

http://www.amazon.com/Story-Clan-Alp...7065493&sr=1-2

[Silent Raven]

thanks every one! Paul, i really like that little tartan book with the leather binding, very sharp looking!

Silent Raven,

I cannot add much about the book itself that our resident bookbinder has not already said. But I can identify the red tartan on the cover as the Scott tartan.

Paul, I would ID the tartan on your book cover as MacKenzie.

Double Agreed, after seeing Paul's response i looked in the back of my book and there is a small tag of what appear to be a red leather of sorts with SCOTT printed on it, i couldn't get a good picture of it though. and for now it just lives on the book shelf (high enough so the cats cant get to it) until i can find a box for it.