1873 Scarce Legends of the North – The Guidman o’ Inglismill and The Fairy Bride

Author: Anonymous.
Title: Legends of the North. The Guidman o’ Inglismill and The Fairy Bride. With Glossary and Introductions, Historical and Legendary.
Publisher: Edinburgh, Edmonston and Douglas; Peterhead, David Scott, 1873. First thus.
Language: Text in English (with Scots dialect passages).
Size: 8.5 x 6.5 inches.
Pages: (xxvi)-88 pages.
Binding: Very good original publisher’s green cloth binding, bordered in blind with gilt title and crest to upper cover, gilt lettered spine (hinges fine, overall slightly scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing - as shown, publisher’s presentation copy inscription to the half-title: “To Mr. James Taylor, with the Publishers’ kind regards, D. Scott, Peterhead, 18th Sept. 1880” and later ownership signature - as shown).

The book: This 1873 edition of The Guidman o’ Inglismill and The Fairy Bride presents two legendary Scottish tales in verse, accompanied by introductions and a glossary to aid readers in navigating the Doric Scots dialect. Intended as part of the Legends of the North series, the volume sought to preserve regional traditions and dialect at a time when “auld langsyne” was being superseded by more standardized forms of English.

The Guidman o’ Inglismill emphasizes temperance, domestic contentment, and humor in rustic life, while The Fairy Bride retells an older folkloric ballad with allusions to supernatural brides and fairy lore. The introductory essays reflect on the cultural history of fairies, tracing influences from classical mythology, medieval romance, and folk belief. The glossary, extending through the final leaves, provides valuable documentation of Scots vocabulary in use during the 19th century.