The Waverley Novels, Illustrated Edition in 48 Volumes, with the Author's Notes

Complete in forty-eight volumes. 8vo. Original purple cloth, paper spine labels. Engravings and woodcuts throughout. Advertisement preceding text states: "This edition of the Waverley Novels contains, with a few exceptions, all the Woodcuts that appeared in the Abbotsford Edition, besides the Steel Plates belonging to the Author's Favourite Edition in forty-eight volumes. Sir Walter Scott took much pleasure in forming a museum at Abbotsford of the antiquities which illustrated the historical events and personages recorded in his writings. Copies of these will be found throughout this edition of his Novels." "Waverley is a 1814 historical novel by Sir Walter Scott. Initially published anonymously in 1814 as Scott's first venture into prose fiction, Waverley is often regarded as the first historical novel. The novel became so popular that Scott's later novels were advertised as being "by the author of Waverley". His series of novels on similar themes written during the same period have become collectively known as the "Waverley novels". In 1815, Scott was given the honour of dining with George, Prince Regent, who wanted to meet "the author of Waverley". It is thought that at this meeting Scott persuaded George that as a Stuart prince he could claim to be a Jacobite Highland Chieftain, a claim that would be dramatised when George became King and visited Scotland. The Waverley Novels are a long series of books by Sir Walter Scott. They take their name from Waverley (1814), which was the first. Their publication dates span 1814-1829."