The Airs and Melodies Peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland and The Isles Communicated in an Original Pleasing & Familiar Style Having the Lively Airs Introduced as Medleys to form a Sequence to Each Slower Movement. With an Admired Plain Harmony, for the Piano-Forte Harp Organ or Violoncello Intended rather to preserve Simplicity than load with Embellishment. Edited by Captn. S'n Fraser

Edinburgh: Printed and Sold for the Editor ... and to be had, in London, of Mr. John Gow, 30, Great Marlborough Street, Golden Square; in Edinburgh, of Mr. Gow, 2., Hanover Street ..., (1816). First edition.. 4to. 119pp. Printed boards with a decorative border, front & rear. Engraved title page. This copy has been rebacked using the original printed boards, backed with a roughly-cut leather strip on the spine, the signatures neatly strengthened at the gutters with blue-gray paper tape. Some large chips from the leather at the upper spine, printed boards rubbed and quite worn at corners; in general a sound, complete, very good copy. Ownership signature on the upper title dated 1869. Author's signature and "No. 8" in holograph at the head of the first music page (Pg. 11). Of two known varieties of the title page, this is of the variety having the text beneath the author's name in script, no artist or engraver name beneath the image, "EDINBURGH" in lighter type with no colon, less punctuation within the title text, and no "Entd. In Stationers Hall" or "Price" text at the bottom. Also this variety omits the names of Doig and Stirling, and James Smith, from the imprint. The boat at the right side of the image has only three figures in it; the image on the later title shows four figures. We theorize that this is an early copy, likely for patrons or subscribers, based on the "No. 8" in the author's holograph on Page 11, and the overall earlier state of the title page. The copy held at the University of Western Ontario, with the later variant of the title page, has the author's signature in the same location on Page 11, with "No. 206" by his signature (which provides an approximation of the minimum number of copies issued). Also the presence of the Copyright and Price text at the bottom of the title, and the addition of publisher's names to the imprint, suggests that it is of the variety offered for sale to the public. Text added to the later title indicates that the image on the title is Drawn by J. Brooks, Engraved by R. Scott, Edin. The text on the printed boards is somewhat different, though very similar to the title, and includes a section referring to the figures in the title vignette. The imprint on the boards includes other booksellers, and beneath the date of 1816 is the text: "[230 Melodies - Price of the First Impression to its Original Patrons, One Guinea]". A scarce compilation of Highland music, "being chiefly acquired during the Interesting Period from 1715 to 1745...", edited by Captain Fraser, a fiddler and composer. A difficult book to find complete.