International Affairs, etc.

D’Auvergne, Edward. A Relation of the most remarkable transactions of the last campaigne, in the Confederate army...of the elector of Bavaria, in the Spanish Netherlands... for Dorman Newman, 1693 [Wing D300]--An impartial account of all the material transactions of the grand fleet and land forces from their first setting out from Spithead, June the 29. till his Grace the Duke of Ormond’s arrival at Deal, November the 7th. 1702. In which is included a particular Relation of the Expedition at Cadiz, and the Glorious Victory at Vigo... for R. Gibson, 1703--R. V. A Letter from A Minister of State at Turin...relating to the Expedition into Provence, and siege of Toulon...done from  a French copy transmitted from the Hague... John Morphew, 1707, second edition, ONLY 3 COPIES OF THIS ISSUE RECORDED BY ESTC IN THE BRITISH ISLES (no copy in the British Library)--Manley, Delariviere. The Conduct of his Grace the Duke of Ormonde, in the Compagne of 1712. For John Morphew, 1715--[Pulteney, William, Earl of Bath.] A State of the National Debt, as it stood December the 24th, 1716...for  R. Francklin, 1727; and 14 others, including more on the national debt and forms of prayer; 4to, early eighteenth-century quarter calf, marbled boards (spine numbered 30), some damp-staining and soiling and spotting, binding somewhat worn and rubbed (1)

The Forbes Baronetcy was created in 1626 for Sir William Forbes (d. circa 1650) by James VI in the Barontage of Nova Scotia. The majority of the works offered here were acquired by the sixth Baronet, also William (1739-1806), who added Pitsligo to his title in 1781. He was an eminent Scottish banker and benefactor, good friend of James Boswell and Samuel Johnson (see lots 45-46), and finally succeeded in recovering the Pitsligo estates forfeited after the Jacobite rebellion of 1745. His son William, the seventh baronet, beat Sir Walter Scott to the hand of the renowned beauty Williamina Belsches Stuart (1776-1810), and it was with their marriage that the family moved to her family seat, Fettercairn House in Kincardineshire, Aberdeenshire.

One of the sixth baronet’s acquisitions for his library at Pitsligo were numerous highly important miscellanies and tract volumes, many of which were purchased as a set from Edinburgh bookseller Elphinstone Balfour in October 1786. These were subsequently supplemented by further contemporary tracts and other works from the late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century. Most of these miscellanies bear a nineteenth century Forbes family bookplate.

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."