The Clans of the Scottish Highlands, Illustrated by Appropriate Figures, displaying their Dress, Tartans, Arms, Armorial Insignia, and Social Occupations, from Original Sketches by R. R. McIan. With accompanying Description and Historical Memoranda of Character, Mode of Life, &c. &c. -
James Logan, R. R. McIan (illustrator)
1845-1847 - Ackermann and Co., Strand - First Folio Edition
First editions of the first illustrated encyclopaedia of traditional Scottish tartans. Scarce, massive and in the publisher’s original large folio bindings with the motto of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Nemo me impune lacessit to the ornate gilt covers. Housed in bespoke slipcases.
Containing seventy-two magnificent hand-coloured lithographic plates, and two colour chromolithograph titles with the coat of arms of the different Scottish clans. McIan and Logan’s extensive research into the clans was in response to Queen Victoria’s interest in her Scottish heritage, the final work being published to celebrate the centenary of the 1745 Jacobite Rising, one of the results being the 1746 Act of Proscription prohibiting the wearing of highland clothing, the second offence of which led to transportation (repealed in 1782).
McIan’s Clans is still considered the finest example of a large number of works on the subject. Robert Ronald McIan (1803-1856) was born in Scotland and moved to London in his teens to become an actor, where he performed with the Bath and Bristol company, at the English Opera House and Drury Lane. He took up painting, specializing in Scottish subjects, and by 1835 was exhibiting his work, including the Royal Academy exhibitions of 1836 and 1838. In the early 1840s, he retired from theater to pursue a career as an artist, concentrating on dramatic scenes from Scottish history. Together with James Logan, an authority of Scottish clan history, McIan produced The Clans of the Scottish Highlands for the centenary of the 1745 Jacobite Uprising, with text by Logan and illustrations by McIan. The set was originally offered for sale by subscription. While there are errors or artistic license taken in some of the depictions, the work is still valued today as an historical record. Logan and McIan followed this work with The Highlanders at Home in 1848. McIan was also an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy.
James Logan (1797-1872), historian, author and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. A native of Aberdeen, educated at Marischal College and intended to study law but was unable to pursue his career due to a head injury. From the 1820’s he lived mainly in London, contributing to such publications as the 'Gentleman's Magazine'. He was, however, unable to secure a permanent formal post in London and was latterly supported by Highland friends and possibly royal patronage. Eventually, his financial losses forced him into residence at London's Charterhouse from where he was expelled in 1869 for drunkenness. He died three years later at St. Pancras, London, aged 66. Logan's most significant work, 'The Scottish Gael' was published in 1831 after his extensive walking tours of the Highlands and Islands in the mid 1820s.
Provenance: Frank Reddaway (1854-1943), with his armourial bookplate ‘Per Bonum Malumque Fortitudine’ to volume II.
References: Abbey, Life 426. Tooley, English Books with Coloured Plates 1790 to 1860 (1954), 322. Colas 1892. Lipperheide, 1032.
Two large folios (binding size 37,6x28,5), pp. [6] xii 4 Introduction, [162 text] [2]; xiv [180 text][2]. All plates collated and present, with Campbell clan plates at front.
Note: The Clans of the Scottish Highlands was first published in 24 parts and offered for sale by subscription. All pages are numbered specifically for each clan with the last text page unnumbered (for example one clan has 6 pages of text written about it and these are number 1 through to 5 with the last text page unnumbered), however for the Mac Innes clan [Vol.II XX], there are two text pages with the second(being the last) page is numbered, this may indicate that pages 3 and 4 are missing, however on checking against other copies, it appears that there were only two pages for the Mac Innes clan (Lok Man Rare Books - 17/6/2024). Bound in green half morocco over matching pebbled cloth, the motto of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Nemo me impune lacessit is shown on the ornate gilt covers, below the Royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of Scotland, bordered by thistles, roses, acorns and lilies of the valley, spines titled and intricately tooled with thistle motif centres to panels, rear covers embossed in blank mirroring front cover. All edges gilt. Volume I with new endpapers, volume II with original yellow coated endpapers. Condition: 2 plates loose in volume 2, original green morocco-backed cloth decorative boards gilt, g.e. both volumes neatly recased, one with new endpapers, slipcases Ref: 111910 Price: HK$ 85,000
Containing seventy-two magnificent hand-coloured lithographic plates, and two colour chromolithograph titles with the coat of arms of the different Scottish clans. McIan and Logan’s extensive research into the clans was in response to Queen Victoria’s interest in her Scottish heritage, the final work being published to celebrate the centenary of the 1745 Jacobite Rising, one of the results being the 1746 Act of Proscription prohibiting the wearing of highland clothing, the second offence of which led to transportation (repealed in 1782).
McIan’s Clans is still considered the finest example of a large number of works on the subject. Robert Ronald McIan (1803-1856) was born in Scotland and moved to London in his teens to become an actor, where he performed with the Bath and Bristol company, at the English Opera House and Drury Lane. He took up painting, specializing in Scottish subjects, and by 1835 was exhibiting his work, including the Royal Academy exhibitions of 1836 and 1838. In the early 1840s, he retired from theater to pursue a career as an artist, concentrating on dramatic scenes from Scottish history. Together with James Logan, an authority of Scottish clan history, McIan produced The Clans of the Scottish Highlands for the centenary of the 1745 Jacobite Uprising, with text by Logan and illustrations by McIan. The set was originally offered for sale by subscription. While there are errors or artistic license taken in some of the depictions, the work is still valued today as an historical record. Logan and McIan followed this work with The Highlanders at Home in 1848. McIan was also an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy.
James Logan (1797-1872), historian, author and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. A native of Aberdeen, educated at Marischal College and intended to study law but was unable to pursue his career due to a head injury. From the 1820’s he lived mainly in London, contributing to such publications as the 'Gentleman's Magazine'. He was, however, unable to secure a permanent formal post in London and was latterly supported by Highland friends and possibly royal patronage. Eventually, his financial losses forced him into residence at London's Charterhouse from where he was expelled in 1869 for drunkenness. He died three years later at St. Pancras, London, aged 66. Logan's most significant work, 'The Scottish Gael' was published in 1831 after his extensive walking tours of the Highlands and Islands in the mid 1820s.
Provenance: Frank Reddaway (1854-1943), with his armourial bookplate ‘Per Bonum Malumque Fortitudine’ to volume II.
References: Abbey, Life 426. Tooley, English Books with Coloured Plates 1790 to 1860 (1954), 322. Colas 1892. Lipperheide, 1032.
Two large folios (binding size 37,6x28,5), pp. [6] xii 4 Introduction, [162 text] [2]; xiv [180 text][2]. All plates collated and present, with Campbell clan plates at front.
Note: The Clans of the Scottish Highlands was first published in 24 parts and offered for sale by subscription. All pages are numbered specifically for each clan with the last text page unnumbered (for example one clan has 6 pages of text written about it and these are number 1 through to 5 with the last text page unnumbered), however for the Mac Innes clan [Vol.II XX], there are two text pages with the second(being the last) page is numbered, this may indicate that pages 3 and 4 are missing, however on checking against other copies, it appears that there were only two pages for the Mac Innes clan (Lok Man Rare Books - 17/6/2024). Bound in green half morocco over matching pebbled cloth, the motto of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Nemo me impune lacessit is shown on the ornate gilt covers, below the Royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of Scotland, bordered by thistles, roses, acorns and lilies of the valley, spines titled and intricately tooled with thistle motif centres to panels, rear covers embossed in blank mirroring front cover. All edges gilt. Volume I with new endpapers, volume II with original yellow coated endpapers. Condition: 2 plates loose in volume 2, original green morocco-backed cloth decorative boards gilt, g.e. both volumes neatly recased, one with new endpapers, slipcases Ref: 111910 Price: HK$ 85,000