Beschreibung:

Family Histories by Sir William Fraser "By his elaborate compilations on Scottish family history Sir William Fraser has placed subsequent students of Scottish history under permanent obligations to him. Undertaken at the expense of the representatives of the historic families whose fortunes they chronicle, their aim is circumscribed, and their tone, as well as many of their conclusions, more or less biased by their special purpose; but through his free access to charter chests and family papers of all kinds he obtained the means of shedding new light on at least many minor points of general Scottish history; and if his views do not always commend themselves to the impartial student, the industry of his research is undeniable. His method was dry-as-dustish, even when it need not have been so, his narrative is cold and tame, and on strictly historical matters he is frequently weak and commonplace; but by the aid of assistants, whose labours he directed and utilised, he has placed within the reach of the general student of Scottish history a large amount of new and well-authenticated information. The volumes are also of great interest for their illustrations: family portraits, representations of old seals, facsimiles of old documents, &c." (DNB). Over the years Sheriff Bogie acquired a substantial proportion of Fraser's publications which are hard to find as all were published privately in limited numbers, usually 150, for distribution amongst the family and friends of those who commissioned them. Their intrinsic interest to the family historian and genealogist apart, many of them are remarkable pieces of Victorian book production, lavishly illustrated with extensive use of chromo lithography (the work of Lizars, W.H. Macfarlane, W. Banks & Sons, etc.), particularly in the reproduction of documents and clearly with no expense spared by Fraser to his wealthy patrons. Doubtless in part due to the recent popularity of genealogy and family history, these works have become harder to find. Fraser, Sir William The Stirlings of Keir, and their family papers. Edinburgh: privately printed by [Lizars], 1858. First edition, 4to., woodcut illustrated of seals and signatures, 16 plates (including the title-page and which for the most part are chromo lithographs and double sided), 14 engraved plates of portraits mounted on india paper, original quarter morocco, cloth boards, t.e.g., repairs to the backstrip, endpapers renewed, some light marginal foxing to a number of the plates. Note: Ferguson p. 175. No 80 of 150 copies. The first of Fraser's great series of family histories. Provenance: Presented to John Ord Mackenzie of Dolphinton.