The Lord of the Isles by Sir Walter Scott, Mauchline Ware with box, 1857
 
This edition was published in 1857 by Charles Black, Edinburgh, as an author's illustrated edition. However, this is a very special version and as such is quite rare. The cover is in Mauchline Ware with a tartan pattern and an oval insert. I think the insert is  Fingal's Cave. The text-block edges are in gauffered gilt and are very bright. In addition, the end-papers are white moire silk with a faint impression on the bottom of the front paste-down indicating the binder was "H. Bowie Edin". Bowie was a binder who lived in Edinburgh at the time the book was published. There is a previous owner's name on one of the early blanks. The illustrations were designed by Birket Foster and John Gilbert.
 
As well as the book there is the original wooden case. This is very fragile as it is made of thin, unlined wood with a paper cover pasted on with red decorations and text. This has had a repair to the hinge and internally with some tape. It retains its original appearance and functionality.
 
The covers remain bright with light wear and scuffing. There is  scattered cracking on the varnish only visible with some bright illumination. The image on the front and the gilt lettering on the spine are clear and well-defined. The board edges are in good condition. There is some cracking of both gutters but the binding remains firm. There is some foxing on the half-title page which has an illustration as is the case for the frontis piece and its tissue paper. The rest of the book shows minimal browning and the numerous black and white illustrations are quite clean.
 
The book measures 210x140x33mms. It is, of course, not a miniature and is quarto size.
 
This is a highly desirable book in very good plus condition.