Scotland in Early Christian Times — Joseph Anderson — 1881 First Edition

An extensively illustrated Victorian study of early Christianity and archaeology in Scotland by Joseph Anderson, Keeper of the National Museum of the Antiquaries of Scotland.

Published in Edinburgh by David Douglas in 1881, this volume presents Anderson's Rhind Lectures in Archaeology for 1879, examining the physical remains of early Christianity in Scotland. Subjects include early churches, monastic settlements, beehive cells, bells, reliquaries, manuscripts and other surviving evidence of Scotland's early Christian culture.

The book is particularly appealing for its wealth of period archaeological illustrations, including architectural remains and early Christian artifacts.

Complete with all three folding plates, along with numerous illustrations throughout the text. One folding plate is detached but remains with the book.

This copy also has interesting early institutional provenance. It bears an old library accession stamp dated February 27, 1882, only shortly after publication, together with a later "Withdrawn from A.N.T.S. Library" stamp, handwritten classification number and an old shelf mark on the spine. The precise identity represented by "A.N.T.S." has not been established, so the abbreviation has been left uninterpreted.

Condition

Good antiquarian condition. Original dark green cloth with blind-ruled boards and gilt lettering and rules to the spine. The gilt remains clear and attractive. General rubbing and age wear to the boards, with wear and fraying at the spine ends and corners.

The binding is somewhat loose and shows separation in places and should therefore be handled with care. Interior pages are generally quite clean for their age. Numerous illustrations remain crisp and attractive. All three folding plates are present; one is detached but retained. Former institutional library markings and stamps as described above.