The Scots Magazine, February 1768 - December 1769, Vol. XXX - Vol. XXXI
The Scots Magazine was Scotland's leading eighteenth-century periodical and remains one of the richest contemporary records of the political, social, literary and scientific life of the age. Published monthly in Edinburgh, it combined detailed reports of British and European affairs with parliamentary proceedings, essays, poetry, book reviews, accounts of scientific discoveries, antiquarian research, legal cases, commercial intelligence and extensive coverage of Scottish news.
This volume, covering the years 1768-1769, captures a particularly significant period in British and European history, with contemporary reports on the growing political unrest in Britain's American colonies, the Corsican struggle for independence under Pasquale Paoli, the controversy surrounding John Wilkes and the Middlesex elections, and David Garrick's celebrated Shakespeare Jubilee at Stratford-upon-Avon. Alongside these major events are the diverse articles, correspondence and observations that made The Scots Magazine one of the foremost journals of the eighteenth century, offering a remarkable window into the intellectual, cultural and political life of Georgian Britain.
A bound copy of The Scots Magazine featuring volumes covering February 1768 - December 1769. Vol. XXX - Vol. XXXI.
Published in Edinburgh by Sands, Brymer, Murray and Cochran, 1768-1769. The original monthly parts have been bound into a single volume, with the original printed wrappers and their imprints no longer present.
A good (minus) hardback with contemporary leather spine with gilt rules. Board coverings have been lost, leaving only the spine covering with torn flaps. The pastedowns remain present but have become detached from the boards, exposing the original binding cords beneath, although the text block remains securely bound. Endpapers with previous owner's names.
The text itself is good throughout. Printed in double columns it is clear and bright with occasional light usage marks or minor imperfections such as corner folds or infrequent light spot. Of particular note is the botanical Plate opposite p.344, a fold-out map of The River Carron and 'The Great Canal', opposite p.569 (fold-out with creasing and a torn loss to vertical edge), and an engineering drawing opposite p.624 of 'Mr. Blakey's new Fire Engine for Raising Water'.
Text in English.
Runs from the beginning of the February 1768 issue to the December 1768 issue (pp. 57–672), followed by January to December 1769 (pp. 1–648). The volume is complete to p.648 but lacks the concluding portion of the December 1769 issue (pp.649–718), including the annual Appendix for 1769, together with the terminal fourteen-page index. This collation has been confirmed against the National Library of Scotland's copy.
Dimensions: approximately 212mm x 141mm x 43mm.
Weight: Approximately 742g.