Rokeby.

Edinburgh:: John Ballantyne, 1813., 1813. 4to. [x], 330, cxvi pp. Original olive green straight-grain morocco, gilt-extra, with alternating pattern of ovals and feathers, raised bands, all edges gilt, BOUND BY TAYLOR & HESSEY, London, with their gilt-stamp on the outer fore-edges of the upper and lower cover (as is common with their stamps). Near fine. ". . . BOUND UNDER THE DIRECTION OF SIR WALTER SCOTT HIMSELF": Manuscript note found within this copy: "Sir Walter Scott's Rokeby, Edinburgh, 1813. Original edition, green morocco. * This precious volume was bound under the direction of Sir Walter Scott himself, transmitted to the binder by John Ballantyne, the publisher; the edge when bent discloses a wonderful view of Rokeby [(corrected in pencil): Barnard] Castle painted by the celebrated Patrick Nasmyth [1787-1831] when in the full rigor of his great artistic talent." – THIS MUST BE THE TAYLOR & HESSEY PAINTER, his work is profoundly similar to this artist, especially when considering his expert use of creating depth in a painting, plus his preponderance of thick dense trees that are painted with remarkable detail (unlike other fore-edge painters). This is an extremely rare example of the actual artist's name being mentioned. This is a choice example of a Taylor & Hessey binding with their exquisitely painted fore-edge painting, the binding being signed in the usual way from this bindery. Of all the Taylor & Hessey specimens I have examined, this is the first to mention the artist's name. The added association with this being a quarto volume, not the more typical and cheaper octavo, and that Sir Walter Scott's name is associated with the design of the binding, suggesting also the fore-edge painting, this is something quite unique.