Very rare, first and only edition of this set of 12 hand-coloured engravings showing Highland clans of Scotland, engraved by Alexander Ritchie (active ca. 1846-ca. 1900?). Ritchie is a relatively unknown but otherwise quite successful 19th-century engraver and lithographic printer from Edinburgh. His first activity can be traced back to a firm called "H[ugh] and A[lexander] Ritchie" which was located at 10 Hanover Street in Edinburgh from 1847 to 1849. In 1850, Alexander established a firm under his own name in that same city at 19 South St. David's Street, where he worked until 1875. However, in 1874, the firm's name had changed again as apparently Alexander's son entered the firm - "Alexander Ritchie & Son. Lithographers, engravers, copperplate & ornamental printers" established their office at 51 York Place in 1876, from where the firm remained active well into the 20th century.
The clans depicted in the present work are represented by one central figure dressed in the clan's traditional tartan while participating in a particular activity. The clans included are: Clan McPherson (golfing); Clan McDonald (playing bagpipes); Clan M(a)cKenzie (as part of a Scottish infantry regiment: the 78th Highlanders / The Ross-shire Buffs); Clan Campbell (throwing the hammer); Clan MacGregor (leistering salmon); Clan Murray (depicted with a dog); Clan McLean (deer stalking); Clan Grant (curling); Clan Stuart (angling); Clan McDuff (otter hunting); Clan Cameron (putting the stone, a Scottish heavy athletic event); and Clan Gordon (dancing).
The present work is very rare as we have not been able to trace it in any sales records of the past 100 years, no other copies are offered for sale, and we have traces only three other copies - in the collections of the National Library of Scotland, the University of Guelp (Canada), and the hand-coloured rare books collection of Mr. S.P. Lohia. A similar work titled Hay's Clans of Scotland, also comprising ca. 12 engravings by Alexander Ritchie, was published around the same time by David Hay in Edinburgh. This work is also quite rare, as we have traced only 2 copies in sales records of the past 100 years and we have found 5 copies held by public institutions.
The engraver responsible for the illustrations in Clans of the Highlands of Scotland should not be confused with the Scottish-born American painter and engraver Alexander Hay Ritchie (1822-1895), who studied in Edinburgh in the late 1830s and early 1840 under the famous Scottish historical painter Sir William Allan (1782-1850) before moving to Canada. A.H. Ritchie eventually moved to New York, USA, where he established his own firm: "A.H. Ritchie & Co.". He became a renowned painter and engraver, having mastered multiple printmaking techniques, such as mezzotint and stipple-engraving, and was well-known for his historical paintings and prints depicting key moments in British and American history, signing them "A.H. Ritchie".
With a manuscript annotation on the back board in black ink ("Glasgow August"), the corners of the boards are very slightly rubbed and/or bumped, internally only occasionally very slightly foxed. Otherwise in very good condition. NSL digital publication listing Scottish printers, publishers, etc., "RITCHIE, Alexander", online via: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/5677434/nafield-jean-printer-edinburgh-national-library-of-scotland; Ross, The Scot in America, p. 184; SPL Hand Coloured Rare Book Collection, splrarebooks.com ref 883 (1 copy); WorldCat 30854574 (2 copies); cf. for Hay's clans of Scotland engraved by A. Ritchie: WorldCat 1086952809 (4 copies).