The Glorious Revolution, the Union, the South Sea Bubble

A True account of the Captivity of Thomas Phelps, at Machaness in Barbary... H. Hills, 1685, [Wing P1982]--The London Gazette... Edinburgh: heir of Andrew Anderson, 1679, broadside--[Fletcher, Andrew.] A Short and Impartial View of the Manner and Occasion of the Scots Colony's coming away from Darien... printed in the year 1699, [Wing F1297]--A letter, giving a description of the Isthmus of Darian: (where the Scot’s colonie is settled;) from a gentleman who lives there at present... Edinburgh: for John Mackie and James Wardlaw, 1699, with the folding engraved map, [Wing L1549, ONLY THREE COPIES IN UK RECORDED BY ESTC]--Walker, George. A True Account of the Siege of London-Derry. For Robert Clavel and Ralph Simpson, 1689, the third edition, [Wing W353]--[Pomfret, John.] The Choice, or wish; a poem. Edinburgh, 1701, thistle ornament on title page, [Foxon P723]--Marvell, Andrew, and others. Collection of Poems on Affairs of state; viz. Advice to a Painter...by A-- M-- Esq; and other Eminent Wits. Printed in the Year, 1689, [Wing C5176];  Third Part of the Collection of Poems on Affairs of State. Containing Esquire Marvel's further Instructions to a Painter. And the late Lord Rochester's Farewel. Printed in the Year 1689, FIRST EDITION,  [Wing T913, Pforzheimer 670; Case 188]; and others, including verse (including collections of poems and songs against Popery), some relating to Protestants in France, the proceedings of the Scottish parliament; chiefly 4to; eighteenth-century quarter calf, marbled boards, red morocco label, some damp-staining, some pamphlets cropped or shaved, some soiling and spotting, some wear to binding; together with three other volumes with similar pamphlets printed in London and Edinburgh relating to British, Scottish, European and Colonial affairs of the period, including: A defence of the Scots settlement at Darien. With an answer to the Spanish memorial against it. And arguments to prove that it is the interest of England to join with the Scots; and protect it. To which is added, a description of the country, and a particular account of the Scots colony. Edinburgh: 1699 [Wing F2047A]--Proposals for restoring credit; For Making the Bank of England More Useful and Profitable; For Relieving the sufferers of the South-Sea Company; for the Benefit of that of the East-India; And for Raising the Value of the land-interest of Great Britain... Printed in the year 1721 [Goldsmiths 5954; Sabin, 88194]; two of these volumes incomplete and lacking upper covers (4 volumes, numbered 366, 122, the other two unnumbered); 4to and 8vo

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."

For the doomed Scottish attempt to establish a trading colony at Darien in the Panamanian isthmus bordering Columbia, in which something between a quarter and a half of all Scotland's wealth at the time was sunk and lost, see lot 84.