Waverley Novels: Waverly. Guy Mannering

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NOTICE TO ABBOTSFORD EDITION.

THE PROPRIETORS of the WAVERLEY NOVELS have had great satisfaction in the results of their efforts to bring those Works in convenient form within the reach of the less opulent classes of the community. The issue in weekly sheets, price 2d. per sheet, had a sale of not less than 25,000 at starting; which within a fortnight rose to 60,000.

But while preparing the cheap popular impression which has been received so favourably, the Proprietors were also taking measures for an Edition of a different character. This is the age of graphically illustrated Books; and it remained to affix to these Works, so interwoven everywhere with details of historical and antiquarian interest, such Engraved Embellishments as, had the Author himself been now alive, his personal tastes and resources would most probably have induced him to place before students of antiquity and lovers of art.

It was a favourite pursuit of Sir WALTER SCOTT throughout life, but especially in his most active period, to collect and arrange objects of Art connected with the historical events and personages recorded and illustrated by his pen; and it cannot be doubted that a Series of Engravings, representing the Pictorial and Antiquarian Museum at Abbotsford, would furnish the most instructive graphic commentary that the body of his Writings could receive from any one source whatever. This collection, therefore, valuable in itself, and doubly interesting as having been made by such a hand, has now been studied with care, and its various curiosities faithfully copied for the exclusive purposes of an Edition of the Waverley Novels, which is to bear the title of

The Abbotsford Edition.

Fancy and ingenuity have already been largely employed on subjects drawn from these works. The aim on the present occasion is to give them whatever additional interest may be derived from the representation of what was actually in the contemplation or memory of the Author when he composed them.

Accordingly, for this Edition, the real localities of his scenes have been explored; the real portraits of his personages have been copied; and his surviving friends and personal admirers, as well as many public bodies and institutions, have liberally placed whatever their collections afforded at the disposal of the eminent Artists engaged by the Proprietors.

They have to acknowledge, in particular, the handsome manner in which their applications were received by the Authorities of the General Register-House, and the Library of the Faculty of Advocates at Edinburgh, by the Society of Scottish Antiquaries, and the Proprietors of Lodge's magnificent series of Historical Portraitures. CLUNY MACPHERSON has given access to the ancient repositories of his family at Castle Cluny, rich especially in relics of the unfortunate Charles Edward Stuart. Mr. Clerk of Eldin has opened the Drawings and Etchings of his celebrated father, which also throw much light on the days of "Sixty Years Since." Sir John Graham Dalyell has supplied the original picture of his ancestor, General Dalyell of Binns; Mr. Hog of Newliston that of Colonel Gardiner; Mr. D. R. HAY of Edinburgh, several original designs from his attractive gallery. Mr. SOBIESKI STUART, and his brother, so long and honourably distinguished for their devotion to the Antiquities of the Gael, have contributed a series of outlines of Highland Costume, invaluable to the pages of Waverley, and several other Novels; and which justify the expectations formed of their projected great Work for the illustration of the Highland character and manners. To Mr. Thomas Maitland of Dundrennan-to the well-known Artists, Mr. Roberts of London, and Mr. Harvey of Edin burgh-and to many others, thanks are not less due for miscellaneous contributions.

The Embellishments of THE ABBOTSFORD EDITION will be in number about Two
Among the Painters whose Sketches have been employed, may be

THOUSAND. enumerated

The prominent Scenery described in the Novels has been adhered to with the utmost care by CLARKSON STANFIELD, R.A., who spent last Summer in its investigation, and has already finished whatever was needed for the earlier Novels.

It is not proposed to enlarge to any extent the Annotations with this Edition; but some curious additions will be found, especially as to Guy Mannering and the Bride of Lammermoor.

January 17th, 1842.