St. Ronan’s Well by Walter Scott c1887 Rosslyn Edition White And Allen
 
By Sir Walter Scott
Published by White and Allen, New York, a publisher who only lasted 3 years. Printed by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh.
 
Overview
 
Offered here is a beautifully preserved c1887–1890 Rosslyn Edition of St. Ronan’s Well by Sir Walter Scott, an elegant antiquarian volume with quarter-leather binding, richly mottled paper boards, and gilt top edge pages. Produced by White and Allen during their short period of operation under this name, this edition forms part of The Waverley Novels and exhibits the refined visual style associated with the Rosslyn series.
 
Bibliographic Details
 
Title: St. Ronan’s Well
Author: Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832)
Edition: Rosslyn Edition of The Waverley Novels
Publisher: White and Allen, New York, USA
Printer: Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh
Publication Date: c1887–1890 (undated, confirmed by publisher’s operational years)
Format: Quarter-leather bound, patterned endpapers, mottled paper boards
Pages: 431
Dimensions: Approx. 17.2 × 11.3 × 2.1 cm
Weight: Approx. 299g
 
Dating Notes
 
White and Allen published under this name only between 1887 and 1890, allowing this volume to be confidently dated to this period. The book exhibits all standard Rosslyn features: patterned pastedowns and endpapers, gilt top edge, high-quality paper, and the characteristic mottled board covering.
 
Exterior Condition
 
The binding is exceptionally attractive, featuring leather to the spine and the inner board edges, with a richly mottled yellow-and-brown paper over the boards (as shown in the photograph). The spine retains its panelled structure with gilt lettering, though the leather has softened, darkened, and shows age-appropriate surface marks.
Additional Exterior Notes
Wear to spine ends and board edges
Fading and small marks to spine leather
Boards remain firmly attached
Overall strong, robust condition for a volume 134+ years old
 
Interior Condition
 
The pages are clean, lightly tanned, and predominantly uncreased. Only a few pages show very light creasing. Occasional small marks appear but do not affect readability. One blank front flyleaf shows minor rubbing on the inner margin.
Edges of some leaves are roughly cut—typical of the construction process where uncut pages were later opened with a paper knife. This occasionally results in tiny edge nicks, all minor and text-safe.
No writing or inscriptions
Tightly bound and secure
All 431 pages present
No loose or missing pages
 
About the Author
 
Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832) is among the most influential writers of the 19th century, shaping the development of the historical novel worldwide. His works, including Ivanhoe, Waverley, and Kenilworth, remain foundational classics of British literature.
 
Historical Note: The Rosslyn Edition
 
The Rosslyn Edition of The Waverley Novels is admired for its elegant bindings, gilded top edges, decorative boards, and high-quality printing. Produced for the American market by White and Allen, these volumes are less commonly found than UK printings, adding to their desirability among collectors.