Kennedy's Travels; Kennedy in India (1881) & Kennedy at the Cape (1879), Bound with Life of Thomas Guthrie

Two scarce Victorian travel accounts by David Kennedy, Junior, describing the Kennedy family's professional tours performing Scottish songs in India and South Africa. Combining observations of local life and travel with the experiences of the touring musicians, the works offer an unusual connection between Scottish musical history and Britain's overseas world. Bound together in contemporary half calf under the spine title "Kennedy's Travels", with a biography of the Scottish preacher and philanthropist Thomas Guthrie. Comprises:

Kennedy in India; A Professional Tour, through Bengal, Bombay, and the North-West Provinces. A section of "Singing Round the World", by David Kennedy, Junior, a member of the Kennedy Family of Scottish Vocalists. Published by D. Kennedy, Edinburgh, 1881; 

Kennedy at the Cape; A Professional Tour through Cape Colony, the Orange Free State, the Diamond Fields, & Natal. by David Kennedy, Junior, a member of the Kennedy Family of Scottish Vocalists. Published by The Edinburgh Publishing Company, Edinburgh, and Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., London, 1879; and; 

Life of the Rev. Thomas Guthrie, D.D., Compiled Mostly from His Own Lips. Published by John S. Marr & Sons, Glasgow; Simpkin, Marshall and Co., London, and George Robertson, Melbourne. Undated; "Sixth Thousand."

The Kennedy works are believed to be first editions of these separately published accounts; the Guthrie biography is undated (although possibly c.1873) and designated "Sixth Thousand".Kennedy in India is particularly scarce - WorldCat is showing just one edition in two libraries, with Edinburgh University the stated holding.

A good (plus) hardback in contemporary Victorian binding, with dark green leather spine and corners, with raised bands and gilt decoration to the spine, with a red morocco title label lettered in gilt. With cloth over boards. Covers with light bumping to corners and spine lightly sunned, with a small chip to the edge of the title label. Endpapers cracked at inner hinges, but still soundly bound.

Endpapers with some offsetting from leather turn-ins, and some spotting at rear. Previous owners' inscriptions to front pastedown and first free endpaper. The text itself is very good - bright and clean, with occasional usage mark. Text block with decoratively speckled edges.

Text in English.

Pagination: iv + pp. 9-148; viii + pp. 5-153; vi + pp. 7-128, respectively. Each work retains its own title page and contents listing. Kennedy at the Cape also retains its half-title, and both the Cape and Guthrie works include prefaces. The pagination is irregular in the Kennedy works; all three appear complete on inspection.

Dimensions: approximately 185mm high x 129mm wide x 33mm deep.

Weight: approximately 616g (unpacked).