Slezer (John) Theatrum Scotiae, containing the Prospects of their Majesties Castles and Palaces:
together with the most considerable Towns and Colleges. London: Printed by John Leake for Abel
Swalle..., 1693

FIRST EDITION, folio (393x265mm.), complete, title in black and red with Scottish Arms, 57 fine
double-page engraved and etched plates mounted on guards, numerous large armorial vignettes in
prelims., trace of worming to blank tail/gutter of first few prelims. diminishing to a single worm
hole extending to plate 38, slight discolouration and short closed tears to central blank margins of
several plates affecting engraved surfaces only at Ayr (pl.30) with a small hole at centrefold, and
Kelso (pl.50) with 2 similar, a few small burns or rust-marks, in a couple of cases touching plates,
but the contents generally in fresh state; nineteenth century panelled sprinkled calf, attractively gilt,
olive green morocco label, g.e., slight rubbing and discolouration, a very good and large copy

Wing S.3993. Slezer’s is the first book of town prospects published in Britain. A native of
Germany, he settled in Scotland in 1671, and combined the professional duties of Chief Engineer
for Scotland (also Surveyor of His Majesties Stores and Magazines, and subsequently Lieutenant
of Artillery as well), with the ambition of delineating the towns and great buildings of the
country. “The book was a lavish volume of...plates accompanied by written descriptions, and
constitutes the first systematic illustrated record of Scotland, showing - as no other documents do
- what the country looked like 300 years ago.” (Cavers) It was reprinted several times, the latest
in 1814, but the first edition was the only one produced under Slezer’s direct supervision and the
only one to print the coats of arms; it also provides the finest strikes of the plates. The text was
written with the full collaboration of Sir Robert Sibbald. This is one of 100 “fine-paper” copies,
and a further 25 copies were printed on “larger and finer paper,” which Cavers describes as
simply “effectively thicker.” For a more detailed account, see Keith Cavers, A Vision of
Scotland (H.M.S.O., 1993).

Price: £8,200