The Signet Library Edinburgh and its Librarians 1722-1972. [With a foreword by Ronald K. Will and an introduction by A.R.B. Haldane]. (Scottish Library Studies 6)

G. H. BALLANTYNE

ISBN 10: 0900649186 / ISBN 13: 9780900649189

Published by Glasgow: Scottish Library Association, 1979

About this Item

Verso of frontispiece slightly spotted, dustwrapper mildly faded at spine. Inscribed by the author (Librarian of the Signet Library 1968-95) to the auctioneer/bookseller John Collins, "To John, with best wishes from George"; loosely inserted an article by Ballantyne, "Ballast Aliens in South Fife, 1820-1919", extracted from the Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, 1971, an autograph letter signed from him to Collins, 2pp. 8vo, Edinburgh, 8 September 1982, and a news-cutting of the TLS's review of the book (by Alan Bell). "[A]nyone seriously interested in the history of the library," wrote John Collins, "should read [this book,] by G.H. Ballantyne, the Signet librarian to whose forbearance and generosity of spirit as I radically diminished his library, I owe a very great deal." Collins catalogued Sotheby's Signet Library sales of 1978-9.

Seller Inventory # 3S100357

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Signet Library Edinburgh and its Librarians 1722-1972. [With a foreword by Ronald K. Will and an introduction by A.R.B. Haldane]. (Scottish Library Studies 6)
• Publisher: Glasgow: Scottish Library Association
• Publication Date: 1979
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0900649186
• ISBN 13: 9780900649189
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included
• Signed: Inscribed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Scottish

About this title

Synopsis

Though it is now again primarily a law library, the Library of the Society of Writers to the Signet was, in the 19th and into the mid-20th century, one of the most important private libraries in Scotland. A history of the Library is followed by biographies of librarians and accounts of their tenures, from 1804-1968. A concluding chapter discusses the collection, past library catalogues, and the sales of holdings in the late 1950's and late 1970's. Notes, bibliography and index. Dust jacket chipped, soiled. xvi, 194 pages. cloth, dust jacket.. small 8vo..