Castle Dangerous & Surgeon’s Daughter Walter Scott c1880s Leather Illustrated
 
Castle Dangerous & The Surgeon’s Daughter by Sir Walter Scott – c.1880s Leather
Illustrated Edition
 
Publisher: W. P. Nimmo, Hay, & Mitchell, Edinburgh
Printer: Morrison and Gibb Limited, Edinburgh
Editor: Rev. P. Hately Waddell (1817–1891)
Publication Date: c.1883–1891
Binding: Half-Leather with Marbled Boards
Illustrations: Two black and white frontispieces with protective tissue guards; two illustrated title pages
Series: The Waverley Novels
 
Bibliographic Details
 
This handsome antiquarian leather volume brings together several of Sir Walter Scott’s historical works from The Waverley Novels, edited by Rev. P. Hately Waddell.
It includes Castle Dangerous, The Surgeon’s Daughter, and a collection of shorter tales under Chronicles of the Canongate - namely The Highland Widow, The Two Drovers, My Aunt Margaret’s Mirror, The Tapestried Chamber, and The Death of the Laird’s Jock.
An engaging summarised account on the Scott Centenary (1871) is also included, adding to the historical and literary interest of the volume.
 
This includes, in the following order: “Castle Dangerous”, Chronicles Of The Canongate Preface, The Surgeon’s Daughter, Chronicles Of The Canongate Introduction, Chronicles Of The Canongate, The Highland Widow, Chronicles Of the Canongate, The Two Drovers, My Aunt Margaret’s Mirror, The Tapestried Chamber, Death Of The Laird’s Jock, Scott Centenary.
 
Historical Context
 
Castle Dangerous (1831) was the final novel written by Sir Walter Scott, set in 14th-century Scotland during the Wars of Independence. It is steeped in themes of chivalry, loyalty, and national conflict.
The Surgeon’s Daughter (1827) is partly set in India and explores themes of ambition, betrayal, and colonial adventure, blending romantic and moral dimensions typical of Scott’s later works.
The accompanying Chronicles of the Canongate stories - including The Highland Widow, The Two Drovers, and others - reflect Scott’s gift for weaving Scottish folklore and moral tales into historically rooted fiction.
Together, these works exemplify Scott’s mastery of the historical novel and his influence on both British and European literature.
 
Physical Description
 
A handsomely bound late Victorian edition, half bound in thick leather over the spine, corners, and board edges, with marbled paper-covered boards, all edges marbled, and matching marbled endpapers and pastedowns.
 
The panelled spine features gilt lines, tooled gilt decorations, and gilt lettering on a black title label.
 
Two illustrated title pages and two black and white frontispieces (each with a tissue guard) enhance the presentation of this beautifully produced edition.
 
Condition
 
Exterior:
The binding remains robust and intact. The leather is in good condition with only light wear to the edges and corners, including minor rubbing and there are a few small surface marks and scratches, and fading consistent with age. The marbled boards retain rich colour and gloss, with just gentle signs of handling. Gilt lettering and tooling on the spine remain clear and attractive.
 
Interior:
The pages are gently tanned, as expected for a book of this period, with occasional light foxing and a few small marks throughout.
All pages remain tightly bound and secure, with no loose or missing leaves.
There is a very light crack to the gutter near page 306 of The Surgeon’s Daughter, though the binding remains firm.
A small binder’s label for “A. Brown & Sons, Savile Street, Hull” appears on the front pastedown.
 
There are no handwritten inscriptions or ownership marks.
Overall, this is a clean, well-preserved example of this beautifully bound edition.
 
Dimensions & Weight
 
Approx. 19 cm x 13 cm x 4.1 cm
Weight: c.720 grams