St Kilda Provenance

 Dòmhnullach, Iain [John Macdonald] MARBHRAINN, A RINNEADH AIR DIADHAIRIBH URRAMACH, NACH MAIREANN : AGUS DANA SPIORADAIL EILE [Elegies Composed for Late Reverend Ministers : and Other Spiritual Poems]  

Dùn-Èidin [Edinburgh], UIlleam P. Ceanadaidh [William P. Kennedy], [1848]

1st Edition, Dara Mille [2nd Thousand], 12mo (14.5cm), 267pp [1], (original?) plain paper covers. Englsih inscription to half-title: ‘William Stewart, Nethy Bridge, Dec, 1849’ and another in Gaelic to the title page: ‘Ruairidh MacLeòid [Roderick MacLeod], Hiort [St. Kilda] 13:8:10  Covers are stained with loss to lower front corner. Some marginal staining to the prelims and first 10 leaves.  Soiling and marks throughout.

John Macdonald (1779–1849) was a Scottish minister known in Scotland as the Apostle of the North. The provenance of this copy is important as the author is remembered for his visits and descriptions of life on St Kilda.  One of the poems is titled: ‘Turus an Ughdair do Eilean H-IORTA.’ (The Author’s Journey to the Isle of St Kilda).  It was composed in 1822 when Macdonald visited the island for the first of several trips to preach to the natives.  This copy was inscribed in St Kilda 20 years before the island was evacuated (August 1930).

       

[ref:1451]£95