ANNOTATED BY PETER COLLINSON, FRS (1694-1768): MARTIN (...

Hammer

£3,400

ANNOTATED BY PETER COLLINSON, FRS (1694-1768): MARTIN (Martin): 'A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland. Containing a full account of their situation, extent, soils, product, harbours, bays, tides, anchoring places, and fisheries...': London, printed for Andrew Bell, 1703: FIRST EDITION. Large folding map of the Hebrides (neatly repaired) and folding plate of heathen temple: this copy extensively annotated by naturalist and antiquary Peter Collinson (1694-1768) over some 90 pages, with 5 pages of manuscript index and additional notes at end. He relates, for instance, the experience of General Wade, who saw an eagle kill a deer by picking out its eyes and then hovering until the deer stumbled over a precipice. He also includes information given him by Dr Walker, who visited the islands in 1765, and who conveyed to Collinson his scepticism of the reputed second sight of some islanders as well as reporting that there were 'neither wild horses or buffaloes in Scotland as Mr Buffons asserts in his nat:hist: taken from ignorant writers': title leaf cropped at upper margin, some toning and scattered spotting, occasional light waterstains but a very good copy, later full calf gilt by Kerr & Richardson of Glasgow, teg, 8vo. (1)