22 Views of Scotland

22 engraved views of Scotland, from Slezer’s ‘Theatrum Scotiae’, fine old colour, wide margins, tissue guards, preserved in calf portfolio, overall size c.305 x 530mm, London, Printed by John Leake for Abell Swalle, 1693.

A fine collection of views of Scotland from the most important illustrated book of the 17th century concerning Scotland. ‘Theatrum Scotiae’ is the first book with town prospects published in Britain. The work provides an important record of Scottish towns, castles and palaces in astonishing detail. Details in the images and the choice of locations also give us a valuable insight into Scottish nobility and genteel society at that time. For most of these places, these are the earliest views that have survived.

The collection includes views of: Glasgow, Ruins of the Cathedral Church of Elgin, the Castle of Dumbritton, Aberbrothock, Sterling, Bass, Skuyn, Dumbaline, Ross, Kelso, Dunotter Castle, Dundee, Falkland, Dumfermling, Dumblane. Drybrugh, Colross, Castle of Dumbritton, Aberdeen, The ruins of the Abbey of Melross.

Slezer, a native of Germany, settled in Scotland in 1671, and combined the professional duties of Chief Engineer for Scotland (also Surveyor of His Majesties Stores and Magazines, and subsequently Lieutenant of Artillery as well), with the ambition of delineating the towns and great buildings of the country. “The book was a lavish volume of..plates accompanied by written descriptions, and constitutes the first systematic illustrated record of Scotland, showing – as no other documents do – what the country looked like 300 years ago.” (Cavers)

It was reprinted several times, the latest in 1880, but the first edition was the only one produced under Slezer’s direct supervision, the only one to print the coats of arms, and provides the best strikes of the plates. The text was written with the full collaboration of Sir Robert Sibbald.

Keith Cavers, A Vision of Scotland (H.M.S.O., 1993).

Wing S.3993.