Thursday, July 9, 2015

Walter Scott's Robin der Rothe, 1828


A nice book by Sir Walter Scott (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832 ) I found in a large flea market few months ago. It was buried in a large box filled with many books. Most of the books were quite new with soft, colorful contemporary bestsellers (I hardly ever open them, just not my taste) and few books perhaps from 70's and 80's. At least four five people dig there before I got chance to get close.  Few minutes was enough to notice a book with a cover which does not fit with the rest around. The cover, the paper quality and the old shrift (in this case it is a German old shrift) shell be the first indications that you found an old book. 
Walter Scott's Robin der Rothe, 1828
The book is in a good condition considering that it is almost 200 years old.   


Walter Scott's Robin der Rothe, 1828


In the left side of the front page we have a nice engraving.
The text bellow says: "Vergib mir um der Asche deines Vaters willen" which in translation in English says "Forgive me for the sake of your father's ashes".  
What else we learn from the cover page?  Well the most important fact that the book was published in Stuttgart in 1828  while the Sir Scott was still alive. Fascinating thing is that this is a (Hundert und erster Band) One Hundred and First volume. So at least there are 100 other volumes in this series. I wonder if someone has ever tried to collect and put a full set together.

The original book was in English so this is a translation by Erich Walter

Walter Scott's Robin der Rothe, 1828


The text is printed in old Deutsch/German shrift. The pages are conserved quite good with few golden brown molds visible .     


Walter Scott's Robin der Rothe, 1828


Walter Scott's Robin der Rothe, 1828

Good luck on your hunt for the books which deserve a second chance !   

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