Religion and theology

Milton, John. Considerations touching the likeliest means to remove hirelings out of the church. Edinburgh, 1736, new edition, ONLY TWO COPIES IN THE UK COPIES RECORDED BY ESTC--Notcutt, W. A True representation of the sin, danger and mischief, of drunkenness and excess of of drinking...J. Oswald, 1743--The rules and constitutions, for governing and manageing the ---- Maiden-Hospital. With an list of the subscrivers and donators, or contributers thereto, preceeding the 1st. of July, 1702. Edinburgh, 1702, [Hanson 251; FOUR COPIES ONLY IN UK RECORDED BY ESTC], slightly cropped and soiled--Scott, Robert. A Sermon upon the occasion of the late Dreadful Fire, which happened at Edinburgh the third of February, 1700. Edinburgh: James Watson, 1701, slightly cropped--Whiston, William. The Testimony of Phlegon Vindicated: or, an account of the great Darkness and earthquake at our Saviour's Passion... 1732--Eternal Misery the necessary consequence of Infinite Mercy abused. A Sermon, in which is demonstratively proed...the the punishments of the reprobate in a future state must be eternal... For T. Cooper, 1740--[Middleton, Patrick.] The Case of Abraham, commanded to offer up his son Isaac in sacrifice, fairly reasoned. T. Cooper, 1735; together with other religious and political pamphlets, tracts on the Book of Common Prayer, the Church in Scotland, the Church of England, heresies, missionaries, and masonry, sermons, liturgies, catechisms, at least one Book of Common Prayer (Oxford 1772, family presentation copy inscribed to William Forbes "from his affectionate father on his going to France. 25 Sept. 1787") and one bible; together with a few non-religious works (e.g. on linen manufacture in Scotland); mostly eighteenth- or early nineteenth-century quarter calf with marbled boards, some in full calf (spines numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 (2), 5, 6, 21, 51, 53, 54, 222, 240, 270, 271, 299, 325, 328, 336, 340, 355, 356, 357, 370, 371 and four unnumbered); chiefly 8vo and 4to (29)

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 unless otherwise stated
"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."