Observations Upon the Laws and Customs of Nations As To Precedency By Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh His Majesty's Advocate in the Kingdom of Scotland BOUND WITH The Science of Herauldry Treated as a part of the Civil Law, and Law of Nations Wherein Reasons are given for its Principles, and Etymologies for its harder Terms. Published: Edinburgh: Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to his most Sacred Majesty, M.DC.LXXX Physical Description: [18], 92, 89-92p; [1] leaf of plate - [8], 98 [i.e. 102], [6] p., [30] leaves of plates : coats of arms, ill. Edition: First Edition Notes on "Observations" The ninth leaf contains 'Advertisement from the author, to be subjoyned to the third chapter of the Precedency' and 'Advertisement from the printer'. This edition contains cancellantia L1/2 with recto line 12 reading "Cunning" and not "Cuming" 'Advertisement from the printer' contains details about the reprinting of p52; handwritten notes (contemporary hand) in the margin confirm the amendment Usually bound before Sir George Mackenzie's 'The science of herauldry' (same imprint). These are sometimes treated as forming one book, as is suggested by the advertisement leaf, which mentions both titles. Pages 66-67 are misnumbered '64' and '61'. Running title: Of precedency. With Errata on prelim p (16) Notes on "Herauldry" With an engraved half title The last two numbered pages are misnumbered '99' and '98' in that order. Errata on page 8 from front. Usually bound after Sir George Mackenzie's 'Observations upon the laws and customs of nations, as to precedency' (same imprint). These are sometimes treated as forming one book, as is suggested by the advertisement leaf in 'Observations', which mentions both titles. Language: English Size: Small Folio ________________________
Covers: Binding is half leather with marble covered boards in poor condition - both boards are detached and the majority of the spine backstrip is lacking with the underlayer exposed; boards are rubbed, with scuffs and scrapes to the leather edge and corners and worn at extremities. Inside: The book has been near or in a fire with several pages now discoloured as a result. The book is also resulting liquid staining throughout in varying degrees; pages 48 through to 92 of the first book are all lacking the top outer corner in varying degrees with the corner blackened and fragile. Numerous other pages have suffered some form of damage as a result of the fire, and are repaired and/or laid down, some pages are repaired in numerous places though disturbance/loss of text is actually very minimal, a large page length repair at page 90 has been superbly done, with barely a letter of text affected though there is still a hole to the top of the page which affects just a couple of letters and there is a similar hole to the text at page 33/34; a few pages still have unrepaired damage to corners or margins and there are some marginal nicks and tears. Over and above all of that, there is a plethora of general soiling, staining and finger marks, almost throughout; occasional foxing and brown blemishes; intermittent ink spots or marks and occasional what looks like oil staining to the outer margin. There is occasional underlining and/or crossings out to the text, in black ink, and occasional notes to margins in either pencil or black ink, including some of the plates, some of which also bear handwriting on the reverse side, and every now and then traces of a contemporary signature to margins. You name it, it is probably here in this book. Previous owner's name in contemporary hand, dated 1792, recto of the advertisement page, his signature appearing again, in the same beautiful contemporary hand, verso of the title page "William Telfer, Seal Engraver". A second previous owner signature in ink to the front end paper, dated 1857 and to the top of second prelim page in the second book. Numerous signatures in ink to the title page of the second book. The initial at the dedication page and pages A have been hand coloured. The book contains 29 leaves of black and white plate, with markings, damage and repairs as mentioned above. The final few leaves are detached along with the rear board. All other pages are tightly held at the gutter.