Scott's Poetical Works.

A smart set of Sir Walter Scott's Poetical Works in contemporary Mauchline-ware bindings with a corresponding Mauchlin-ware tartan box. Named after the Ayrshire town in which it was manufactured, the technique involved transfer-printing views or tartan patterns onto a number of varying wooden surfaces or objects which were then varnished to be sold primarily as tourist souvenirs. This here is an excellent example of the technique applied to decorative bookbinding.

'Select' edition; 6 vols., small 8vo (14 x 9.5 cm); engraved title-pages, offsetting to some vols, only affecting preliminary and terminal leaves, short closed tear to lower margin of half-titles in Rokeby and Lay of the Last Minstrel; tartan-printed wood boards, backed in red morocco, gilt-tooled in six compartments, all edges gilt, lightly scratched, housed in wooden Mauchline-ware box (16.5 x 19 x 11.5 cm) covered in tartan pattern waxed paper, the lid with a vignette of Sir John Steell's statue of Scott and his dog, lined in purple velvet, lightly rubbed.