A Tour in Scotland; MDCCLXIX;: [together with:] A Tour in Scotland, and Voyage to the Hebrides; MDCCLXXII; [and:] Supplement to the Tour in Scotland.

London, & Chester: Benjamin White, & John Monk,, 1790 & 1772. The best traveller I ever read A handsome set of the fifth edition of Pennant's two famous tours of Scotland, accompanied here by a first edition of the scarce Supplement. Originally published in 1771 and 1774, the tours "did much to strengthen a growing perception of a common British identity, and served to make remote areas of the British Isles recognisable to southern readers" (British Library). Pennant's Scottish books range in topics from natural history - a particular passion - to topographic descriptions, botanic and geologic observations and "snippets of history and commentary on local customs" (ODNB). Samuel Johnson was inspired by Pennant to undertake his own tour with Boswell in the summer of 1773, and spoke of him as "the best traveller I ever read, he observes more things than anyone else does". A word should also be spared for Pennant's personal draughtsman, Moses Griffith, who made the sketches which form the basis for the engravings in both works and whom Pennant referred to as "My Treasure". It is tempting to think of him as playing a sort of artistic Sancho Panza to Pennant's polymath Don Quixote. Provenance: with the armorial bookplates of John Waldie (1781-1862). After attending the University of Edinburgh, the multi-faceted Waldie, from an old Border gentry family, assumed the administration of Hendersyde Park at Kelso, Roxburghshire. Like Pennant, he travelled widely and kept journals of his tours. An accomplished tenor, Waldie performed at private entertainments with Angelica Catalani, Michael Kelly, and John Braham; he met the composer Rossini; and socialized with such well-known actors as John Philip Kemble and Sarah Siddons. In 1859 he published a catalogue of the extensive and diverse artworks and library at Hendersyde Park, a testament to Waldie's taste and refinement. 4 vols., 3 quarto (241 x 184 mm), Supplement octavo (205 x 124 mm). Contemporary tree calf, vol. I skilfully rebacked with the original spine laid down, smooth spines divided by quadriglyph and metope rolls, compartments with foliate cornerpieces enclosing central cross motif, black and olive green twin labels, gilt edge roll, blue speckled edges; Supplement bound in contemporary blue combed paste paper, calf spine. Folding map, vignette title pages, and all plates present as called for. Neat presentation inscription on front free endpapers, dated 1936. Professional repair to back joint and headcap of vol. III, corners and foot of spine of vol. II. A very good set, crisp and clean. Tour: ESTC T110282 & T110281; Supplement: ESTC T81075 (9 locations only).