ANNOTATED BY PETER COLLINSON, FRS (1694-1768): MARTIN (Martin): 'A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland. Containing a full account of their situation, extent, soils, product, harbours, bays, tides, anchoring places, and fisheries...': London, printed for Andrew Bell, 1703: FIRST EDITION. Large folding map of the Hebrides (neatly repaired) and folding plate of heathen temple: this copy extensively annotated by naturalist and antiquary Peter Collinson (1694-1768) over some 90 pages, with 5 pages of manuscript index and additional notes at end. He relates, for instance, the experience of General Wade, who saw an eagle kill a deer by picking out its eyes and then hovering until the deer stumbled over a precipice. He also includes information given him by Dr Walker, who visited the islands in 1765, and who conveyed to Collinson his scepticism of the reputed second sight of some islanders as well as reporting that there were 'neither wild horses or buffaloes in Scotland as Mr Buffons asserts in his nat:hist: taken from ignorant writers': title leaf cropped at upper margin, some toning and scattered spotting, occasional light waterstains but a very good copy, later full calf gilt by Kerr & Richardson of Glasgow, teg, 8vo. (1)
about Lot 51
Studio Pottery: John Maltby, 'Family and Boat', signed titled and dated 2014, ceramic, 25 x 28cm.
about Lot 1441
A good pair of 19th century emerald and diamond earrings, circa 1820, each emerald set in unmarked 18ct gold and surrounded by fourteen set old mine cut diamonds with milgrain edges in silver, surmounted by a single diamond. Each emerald 2.5ct, diamond total weight 2ct approximately.
about Lot 96
An unmarked yellow & white gold bat brooch, having cabochon ruby eyes, 6cm.
about Lot 89
A very rare Chinese carved amber libation cup, 17th century, carved in high relief with dragons and stylized clouds, 5.6cm high x 10cm wide.
about Lot 732
A good Victorian silver novelty owl sugar caster, by Thomas, James & Nathaniel Creswick, Sheffield 1850, finely decorated and chased with feather decoration, with inset glass eyes, 13.5cm high.
about Lot 20
Ferdinand Preiss, 'Hoop Girl and 'Sonny Boy', a good pair of ivory and cold painted bronze figures, each on green onyx base, 21cm high.
about Lot 1634
A Louis XV satinwood, kingwood and rosewood bombe commode, with gilt metal mounts, 97cm wide.
about Lot 1446
A 'butterscotch' amber bead necklace, of forty three oval graduated beads, largest bead 4cm, 155g.
about Lot 579
A 19th century carved and painted wood butcher's shop diorama, the visible area 40 x 60cm, in the original mahogany framed case, the whole 50.5cm high x 71.5cm wide x 19.5cm deep.
about Lot 1379