[Rarebooks] fa: ELIZABETH HAMILTON - THE COTTAGERS OF GLENBURNIE 1808 (Scarce Scottish Novel)

[Ardwight Chamberlain]

Listed now, auctions ending Sunday, May 31. More details and images can be found at the URL below or by searching for the seller name arch_in_la.

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Thanks again,
Ardwight Chamberlain
L.A.


Elizabeth Hamilton: The Cottagers of Glenburnie; A Tale for the Farmer's Ingle-Nook. Edinburgh: Printed by James Ballantyne and Co. for Manners and Miller [et al], 1808. FIRST EDITION; 8vo (21 cm); full early/period leather with gilt rules to the spine; xv, [1], 402 pp.; with the half-title page. Wolff 2942 (not in Sadleir).

Uncommon first edition of this novel by Elizabeth Hamilton (1758-1816). "Mrs. Hamilton (as she preferred to be called though she was unmarried) is known for two notable works written during her last years in Scotland: a homely Scottish song, "My Ain Fireside," and a Scottish tale, The Cottagers of Glenburnie. The latter was born of her philanthropic interest in improving the farmers of the country, and contained reminiscences of her girlhood in Stirlingshire" (Kunitz & Haycraft). Apparently quite popular in its day (it went through at least three editions in the year of its publication, and six editions by 1815), the work is said to have had some effect in improving the lives of Scottish crofters.

Rubbing to the boards with a scuff to the front board, bumping to the corners, wear to the edges; bound without the front and rear endpapers, hence offsetting (browning) from the binder's glue to the first and last few leaves; dust-soiling to the top edge of the text block; occasional spotting and soiling to the leaves; a few corners bumped/creased; bottom corner of one leaf torn away, not affecting text; otherwise generally clean and sound, firmly bound.