St. Mary’s Church, South Leith. (B4-JJ-39)

St. Mary’s Church, South Leith.

This original antique steel engraving depicts St. Mary’s Church in South Leith, Edinburgh, drawn by Sir Daniel Wilson and engraved for his landmark two-volume work, Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time, published in 1848. One of the most historically significant illustrated records of Victorian Edinburgh, Wilson’s book captured the city’s ancient architecture at a time of rapid change. St. Mary’s — founded in 1483 and one of Leith’s oldest surviving buildings — is shown here in fine detail, with figures in the foreground lending a sense of life and scale. A rare and evocative piece of Scottish ecclesiastical and topographical history.

Subscript: Lower Left: Drawn by D. Wilson. Lower Center: St. Mary’s Church, South Leith. Published by Hugh Paton, Adam Square, Edinburgh.  Lower Right: Engd. By William Forrest

Author: Sir Daniel Wilson, F. R. S. S. A. (1816–1892)

Publication: Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time. By Daniel Wilson, F. S. S. A. Acting Secretary to the Society of the Antiquaries of Scotland.

Volume: 1

Publisher: Hugh Paton / Simpkin, Marshall, & Co.

Place of Publication: Adam Square, Edinburgh / London

Date: 1848

Artist: Sir Daniel Wilson, F. R. S. S. A. (1816–1892)

Engraver: William Forrest

Page Number: Between 66-67

Paper Dimensions: 9 ⅜ x 12 inches

Medium: Steel Engraving

Language: English

Coloured: Black and white

Condition: The print is in good condition with age-toning consistent with its date. Light foxing is present and some edge wear is visible. The print appears to have been laid onto a backing sheet of thicker paper, as can be seen.

Reference: Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time, HathiTrust