(Edinburgh and London: Archibald Constable and Co. and Longman, Rees, et al., 1826).

FIRST EDITION OF A SCARCE AND EXCELLENT WORK, THIS SET IN UNCOMMONLY FINE AND WELL-PRESERVED CONDITION, and with all half-titles as is often not the case. Sir Walter Scott was considered to be the inventor of the historical novel and the success of his Waverley series was immediate and long lasting throughout the English speaking world.
Set shortly after the English Civil War, WOODSTOCK was inspired by the legend of the Good Devil of Woodstock, which in 1649 supposedly tormented parliamentary commissioners who had taken possession of a royal residence at Woodstock, Oxfordshire. The story deals with the escape of Charles II in 1652, during the Commonwealth, and his final triumphant entry into London on 29 May 1660. David Hume's HISTORY OF ENGLAND gave Scott most of the historical background.
As with all the Waverley novels prior to 1827, WOODSTOCK was published anonymously. Item #34041

3 volumes. First Edition. With fine Scottish provenance being Ex-libris of the Bellfield Library, Kilmarnock and James Buchanan, merchant of Glencoe. With half-titles in each volume. 8vo, handsomely bound in vellum over blue paper-covered boards, with the publisher's original printed paper labels on the spines, top edge gilt, others untrimmed xvi, 315; 332; 370 pp. A set in beautiful condition, the text fresh and as pristine but for a bit of the typical mellowing or occasional age evidence. The bindings are sturdy and strong and show little wear or use, a little bit of spotting from age to the bindings, publisher's printed labels are fresh and very legible. Ownership signature of James Buchanan unobtrusively at top of the titlepage, and stamp of the Bellfield Library on each title-page and occasionally at chapter openings, no other markings within, hard-to-see evidence of small circular shelf labels once being on the spine tops.