Fine Books & Manuscripts

SCOTT, Walter, Sir, translator (1771–1832). –– BÜRGER, Gottfried Augustus (1747–1794). The Chase, and William and Helen: two ballads, from the German. Edinburgh: printed by Mundell and Son for Manners and Miller, 1796. Post 4to (264 x 206 mm). Contemporary parchment vellum backstrip over original publisher’s marbled boards, hand–titled spine, uncut, with original flyleaves (boards and edges a bit rubbed). Provenance: monogram bookplate (“FMS”). FIRST EDITION OF SCOTT’S FIRST PUBLISHED WORK (Todd & Bowden). –– [WITH AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED:] 1pp. mounted to front pastedown from William Erskine (later Lord Kinneder, Scottish Barrister) addressed to Manners and Miller, dated 19 September 1796, negotiating this present work with the publishers Manners and Miller: “Gentlemen/On the part of my friend Mr. Walter Scott/I accept of the offer contained in your letter of this/day’s date. The two first articles of your letter are/necessarily the especial part of the bargain…/William Erskine”. Erskine was Scott’s closest friend among all his Edinburgh associates and was highly serviceable to Scott as a student of German drama and romance. –– [ALSO:] 4 pp. ALS copied from an original letter “in the possession of William Law” from Scott to Erskine that was “sent by William Scott Douglas” (notation on envelope mounted on rear pastedown) presumably to gather details of letters between Scott and the publisher. Douglas was editor of The Works of Robert Burns (1877–79) that was considered the complete edition of Burns. Lowndes I, p. 313; Ruff 1; Tinker 1860; Todd & Bowden 1Aa.Pronounced a failure soon after publication, Scott later commented that “my first publication, was by no means flattering… the very existence of them was soon forgotten”. These gothic poems, first issued by Bürger in 1773, were a great popularity in 18th century Germany and had an appeal to the young Scott, who was fascinated by the legends of his native Scotland and who was undoubtably influenced by Burger’s poems that were often based on curious legends and antiquarian lore in his later poems and novels. Scott’s translation of these two ballads is considered to be the single rarest work by the author, whose later publications were produced in large quantities.