We’ve been given a copy of a rare book, and we’re quite excited!
It’s Lokart’s Memoirs of Scotland, printed at The Black-Boy in Pater-Noster-Row in London – in 1714. George Lokart (or Lockhart as he’s usually referred to now) was a member of Parliament for the city of Edinburgh and was involved in arranging the Union of the Parliaments. Tom Nairn writes in After Britain that ‘George Lockhart absented himself from Parliament Hall. He knew this would be the final vote, “the last day Scotland was Scotland” and he could not bear to be there.’
Nairn continues: ‘Five years on he (Lockhart) reminded the others that real equality of treatment was not obtainable within the newly united Kingdom, hence “if matters stood long on such a footing, the ruine and misery of Scotland was unavoidable…(and) there was consequently no way under the sun to prevent future misery but by breaking of these shackles and redeeming ourselves out of this state of bondage.”’
It was Lockhart who drew attention to the bribes paid by the English Treasury to persuade Scottish parliamentarians to vote for union.
Unfortunately the preface pages have separated from the main book, but the cover itself is in fairly good condition. A friend has done an on-line search for us through antiquarian book sites, and found that there were actually three editions published in 1714.
There’s a big difference in price between those copies in perfect condition and damaged ones – prices range between £65.00 with spine damage, and a rebound copy for £300. (It would probably cost about £100 to rebind.) My friend has suggested we offer it for sale for ‘sold as seen’.
We’re hoping that someone will want to buy it because of its historical value and topical interest. Isn’t it fascinating that it has surfaced now, at this very point in time, from a box of books at auction?
The book will be on display at our Art Exhibition on 21st June at the Cupar Corn Exchange, and will be put to auction at 3pm by Annie Harrower-Gray, another Scottish writer (albeit one of the twenty-first rather than the eighteenth century!) If you would like to read more about the book, and place a sealed bid in case you can't make it on the day, please click here.
George Lockhart would be pleased to know his book is helping the cause. He’d have been another vote for Yes, of course.
Aimee
It’s Lokart’s Memoirs of Scotland, printed at The Black-Boy in Pater-Noster-Row in London – in 1714. George Lokart (or Lockhart as he’s usually referred to now) was a member of Parliament for the city of Edinburgh and was involved in arranging the Union of the Parliaments. Tom Nairn writes in After Britain that ‘George Lockhart absented himself from Parliament Hall. He knew this would be the final vote, “the last day Scotland was Scotland” and he could not bear to be there.’
Nairn continues: ‘Five years on he (Lockhart) reminded the others that real equality of treatment was not obtainable within the newly united Kingdom, hence “if matters stood long on such a footing, the ruine and misery of Scotland was unavoidable…(and) there was consequently no way under the sun to prevent future misery but by breaking of these shackles and redeeming ourselves out of this state of bondage.”’
It was Lockhart who drew attention to the bribes paid by the English Treasury to persuade Scottish parliamentarians to vote for union.
Unfortunately the preface pages have separated from the main book, but the cover itself is in fairly good condition. A friend has done an on-line search for us through antiquarian book sites, and found that there were actually three editions published in 1714.
There’s a big difference in price between those copies in perfect condition and damaged ones – prices range between £65.00 with spine damage, and a rebound copy for £300. (It would probably cost about £100 to rebind.) My friend has suggested we offer it for sale for ‘sold as seen’.
We’re hoping that someone will want to buy it because of its historical value and topical interest. Isn’t it fascinating that it has surfaced now, at this very point in time, from a box of books at auction?
The book will be on display at our Art Exhibition on 21st June at the Cupar Corn Exchange, and will be put to auction at 3pm by Annie Harrower-Gray, another Scottish writer (albeit one of the twenty-first rather than the eighteenth century!) If you would like to read more about the book, and place a sealed bid in case you can't make it on the day, please click here.
George Lockhart would be pleased to know his book is helping the cause. He’d have been another vote for Yes, of course.
Aimee