Lays of The Scottish Cavaliers and Other Poems

Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1865. Later printing. Fine. Bound in a 20th-century full straight grain red morocco with gilt crest on front panel, gilt fluer-de-lis, and decorative gilt foliate and blue inlaid borders on front and back boards, with raised six-compartment spine with gilt fleur-de-lis and title. Red marble endpapers with decorative gilt inner dentelles with a floral and vine pattern. Binding by J. Ramage & co. with binding stamp on version of free endpaper. All edges of the text block gilt, interior bright and clean with in-text illustrations, headpieces, and tailpieces throughout. A Fine copy overall.

A delightful collection that mixes prose and poetry inspired by the 19th century interest in revival texts and Scottish history. Aytoun's Lays, first published 1849, were modelled on the works of Macaulay and Scott (ODNB). The Paton Edition is prized for its expressive illustrations, which embrace a medieval-revival style to emphasize historic costume and create a sense of drama.

The London-based bindery, John Ramage and Company helped "restore the fine hand-craft of bookbinding, in an era when that process was increasingly mechanized" (Morgan Library). John Ramage (1836-1911) apprenticed with both English and French binders before buying his first binder business in Edinburgh 1860. He opened a London bindery three years later (Gertz). "Though the range of their designs is broad, Ramage bindings are celebrated for their remarkably delicate, careful, and elaborate gilt work" (Gertz). Fine.