1870. 12mo, pp. [iv] additional engraved title-page and title, 280; lightly browned throughout with some occasional spotting, more prominent stain to pp. 77-81 seemingly caused by a previous pressed flower or leaf no longer present; original tan morocco backed Mauchline ware wooden boards, made from ‘the Breadalbane Woods, Aberfeldy’, all edges gilt, with gilt tooled turn ins, engraving of the Tay Bridge, Aberfeldy on upper cover together with a verse by Burns, and a view of Aberfeldy on rear cover, lower rear corner missing, with some minor scuffing to surfaces; an appealing copy. An appealing example of a Scottish souvenir Mauchline Ware binding. Mauchline, located 11 miles inland from the Scottish coastal resort of Ayr and for some time the home of Robert Burns, was the centre of the industry, which at its peak in the 1860s, employed over 400 people in the manufacture of small, but always beautifully made and invariably useful wooden souvenirs and gift ware. Views of Scotland dominated the transfer ware. "Burnsian" views, by far, formed the largest single grouping and views associated with Sir Walter Scott probably the second. In addition to virtually every town and village, producers immortalized a great number of beauty spots, country houses, churches, schools, ruins and even cottage hospitals in transfer ware. The Isle of Wight was particularly popular, probably due to Victoria's love of the place. The industry flourished for 160 years and during that period hundreds of thousands of high quality wood ware souvenirs were despatched around the world and were much favoured by affluent Victorian travellers.
The tail of the upper board is signed ‘John Harrower, Jeweller, Aberfeldy’.