Edinburgh Scotland History 1889 Facsimile of Williamson Directory 1773-74 LIMITED

Williamson's Directory for the City of Edinburgh, Canongate, Leith, and Suburbs, from the 25th May 1773, to 25th May 1774, being the first published. Reprinted in Exact Facsimile, with a Prefatory Note by William Brown. Published by William Brown, 26 Princes Street, Edinburgh, 1889. Hardcover, containing 91 pp. of directory, 12 pp. introduction, 12 pp. appendix. Measures about 4 1/2" x 7".

This copy is number 30 of a LIMITED EDITION of 155 copies. It is numbered and initialed "W.B."

Condition is used as shown. The spine is faded and there are some scuffs and stains to the covers. There are numerous pencil notations from around the early 1890s, which are of historical interest as described below.

This copy is UNIQUE because it contains a lengthy pencil inscription dated July 1892 that covers both sides of the front free endpaper and the front of the half-title page. The inscription contains detailed historical information about the Directory's later publication. It may have been written by an older person because the writer still wrote the double "s" in the old style as "fs" so, for example, the word "issued" looked like "ifsued." The writer -- who identified himself only by the initials "W.S." -- also made numerous penciled corrections and updates to the text, presumably reflecting later developments of which he was aware. Our rough rendition of the initial inscription follows:

[obverse of front free endpaper]

This is the first Edinburgh Directory published 1773 by Peter Williamson, a somewhat famous character in Edinburgh in the latter part of the last 18th Century. After a life of remarkable adventure in America, related by himself in a book of which several editions were published, he settled in Edinburgh, carryin[g] on business first as a Vintner & then as a printer & publisher.

This reprint in photographic facsimile was issued by Mr. W. Brown Edin[burgh] in 1889[.] [It] is a modest volume of 48 leaves, & contains about 2600 names. the names are divided in an unusual way; they are alphabetical, but those beginning with each letter are subdivided according to professions and

[reverse of front free endpaper]

and Employments. The last division under each letter is headed "different employments", and among the names so grouped appear three, who are designated "Accomptants" [.] These are

Thomas Boswell, Custom House, Stair 11

James Gordon, Homes Buildings Calton Hill 33

David Ross, Crichlow Street 66

Wiliamson continued sole publisher of the Edinburgh Directory for 20 years, issuing it at first annually & then biannually, with a supplement of additions & alterations in the intermediate years[.]

In 1793 the work appeared under the name of Thomas Aitchison, but in February of the following year Williamson again appears on the scene with an Advertisement, intimating that his Directory "will be published as usual on the 1st June", and cautioning the public, "that James Johnson" and Thomas Aitchi\son, now collecting names "and demanding money for each, are not authorised by him to do so."

Williamson died in 1799, and Aitchison continued to publish the Directory till 1803. In 1806, it passed into the hands of Denison &

[half-title page]

Company, but their name appears on the spine of this year only, for in 1805 it was taken [illegible] by the Post Office Officials, & has been issued annually ever since under their auspices. More than one attempt has been made by private publishers to rival the official publication, but without any lasting success. In the issue for 1833, there was included for the first time a "Street Directory" and a "Professions & Trades Directory", from that time to the present (1892) there has been no material change in the form and arrangement of the Post Office Edin[burgh] Directory.

W.S.

July 1892

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