Eight volumes of the celebrated Abbotsford Edition of Scott’s Waverley Novels (Edinburgh: Robert Cadell, 1842–47), extra-illustrated with India proof engravings and magnificently bound by Zaehnsdorf in full red levant morocco — containing, inserted in Volume I, an autograph letter signed by Sir Walter Scott himself to the Fleet Street bookseller who published the very landscape illustrations that fill these volumes. Scott’s own words about the engravings are physically present in the books they describe: a provenance connection of a kind almost never encountered in the rare book trade.
THE AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED — SIR WALTER SCOTT TO CHARLES TILT, C. JANUARY 14, 1830
ALS signed “Walter Scott,” one page on a folded folio sheet with integral address leaf, addressed in Scott’s hand to “Charles Tilt Esq. / Bookseller / 16 Fleet [Street] / London.” The address leaf bears a clear MELROSE postmark — the town adjacent to Abbotsford — dated c. January 14, 1830, with a red wax seal remnant. Text and signature bold and fully legible; light folds and toning.
The letter reads in full:
“Sir, I have very unexpectedly left wondering beyond your present of the Landscape Illustrations of Waverley. I pretend to no knowledge of art in my opinion ought to go for nothing. But I think they are very beautiful and sincerely hope they will answer the purpose of the artists and publishers. I remain Sir, your obliged humble Servant, Walter Scott.”
Tilt was the publisher of the Landscape Illustrations of the Waverley Novels — engraved views after Stanfield, Turner, Nasmyth, Wilkie, Martin, and Allom — the very plates now extra-illustrated in these volumes. Though Scott modestly disclaims artistic expertise, his pronouncement that the plates are “very beautiful” is a direct authorial endorsement of the illustrations housed in the books that contain his letter. Written two years before his death in 1832, this is a late document from Scott’s final years, sent from Abbotsford under the pre-penny-post Melrose frank.
ALS, signed “Walter Scott” · 1 page, folded folio with integral address leaf · Melrose postmark, c. January 14, 1830 · To Charles Tilt Esq., Bookseller, 16 Fleet Street, London · Red wax seal remnant · Condition: Good to Very Good.
THE BOOKS: ABBOTSFORD EDITION, EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED, BOUND BY ZAEHNSDORF
Eight volumes comprising: Vol. I — Waverley; Vol. II — Guy Mannering; Vol. VIII — The Bride of Lammermoor; Vol. IX — A Legend of Montrose; Vol. XV — The Fortunes of Nigel; Vol. XVIII — St. Ronan’s Well; Vol. XXIII — The Fair Maid of Perth; Vol. XXV — Count Robert of Paris. Cadell, Edinburgh, 1842–47, imperial octavo. Profusely extra-illustrated with India proof engravings after Stanfield, Turner, Nasmyth, Wilkie, Martin, Allom, and Leitch — the finest quality impressions, pulled before the plates showed wear. Bound by Zaehnsdorf in full red levant morocco with gilt-tooled spines, raised bands, Scottish thistle devices, inside gilt dentelles, and top edges gilt. An imposing and beautiful set. Vol. I has a detached front cover; the remaining seven volumes are Very Good to Fine.
8 vols. (of a larger set) · Cadell, Edinburgh, 1842–47 · Imp. 8vo · India proof engravings after Stanfield, Turner, Nasmyth, Wilkie, Martin, Allom, Leitch · Zaehnsdorf full red levant morocco · Inside gilt dentelles, t.e.g. · Vol. I Good (detached cover); Vols. II–XXV Very Good to Fine.