The Heart of Midlothian by Walter Scott c1887 Rosslyn Edition White And Allen
 
Overview
 
This is a beautifully preserved c1887–1890 Rosslyn Edition of The Heart of Midlothian by Sir Walter Scott, published by White and Allen, New York, and printed by Neill & Company, Edinburgh. Elegantly presented in quarter leather with mottled paper boards and top-edge gilt, this volume is part of the highly collectable Waverley Novels Rosslyn Edition series.
 
One of Scott’s most celebrated novels, The Heart of Midlothian stands as a cornerstone of Scottish literature, blending historical narrative, moral conviction, and atmospheric realism.
 
Bibliographic Details
 
Title: The Heart of Midlothian
Author: Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832)
Series: The Waverley Novels – Rosslyn Edition
Publisher: White and Allen, New York
Printer: Neill and Company, Edinburgh
Date: c1887–1890 (undated, by publisher activity)
Format: Quarter leather with mottled paper boards
Pagination: 566pp
Top Edge: Gilt
Endpapers: Patterned endpapers and pastedowns
Dimensions: approx. 17.2 × 11.3 × 2.7 cm
Weight: approx. 365g
 
Dating Notes
 
This volume is undated, as is standard for the Rosslyn Edition. However, White and Allen only operated under this name between 1887 and 1890, providing a clear and reliable dating range.
This makes the book at least 134 years old.
 
Exterior Condition
 
The binding is exceptionally attractive, featuring leather to the spine and the inner board edges, paired with richly mottled yellow-and-brown paper over the boards (as shown in the photograph). The spine retains its panelled structure with gilt lettering, now softened by age.
 
There is light overall wear consistent with a book of this age, including:
Fading/patches of wear to the leather on the spine
Small marks and light scratches
Rubbing to edges of boards and corners
Small patches of fading on the boards
 
The structure remains robust and secure.
 
Interior Condition
 
The pages are lightly tanned, as expected of a book from the late 19th century, and remain in a clean and uncreased state.
 
Notable interior points:
Very light foxing to preliminary pages and page edges
A few very small marks on occasional internal pages
Small amount of rubbing and a tiny rip on the back free endpaper and back pastedown
Rough-cut edges in places, consistent with original construction
Unopened pages between pp. 557–560, confirming the volume was never fully read
Very small rips on the edge of pp. 561-560 and at bottom edge of pp. 359–360 (text unaffected)
Very small production rips on rough-cut edges (text unaffected)
Small pen inscription on front flyleaf (no other writing)
All pages tightly bound, no loose or missing leaves
 
All 566 pages are present and secure.
 
About the Author
 
Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832) was among the most influential literary figures of the 19th century and pioneered the historical novel as a genre. His Waverley Novels shaped global perceptions of Scottish history, identity, and romance. Works such as The Heart of Midlothian mark the height of his artistic maturity.
 
Historical Note: The Rosslyn Edition
 
The Rosslyn Edition of the Waverley Novels was produced in the late 19th century with an emphasis on decorative, high-quality presentation. The use of quarter leather bindings, mottled boards, gilt-topped text blocks, and patterned endpapers made these editions desirable to contemporary collectors, and they remain sought after today.