Rare photographs and books reveal wonderful insight into bygone Angus

Portfolio of items expected to attract interest from far and wide

Angus and Perthshire gems have emerged for Scotland’s largest single day book fair which is set to draw interest from across the country this weekend.

The portfolio of items on offer includes prized centuries-old photographs of some of the notable family names from the area, including that of famous Kirriemuir mountaineer Sir Hugh Munro, whose exploits are marked in the name given to Scottish peaks higher than 3,000 feet.

Bridge View House at Glamis, the home of Strathmore Vintage Vehicle Club, will host tomorrow’s event and organiser Hilary Farquharson said the fair had drawn a record number of exhibitors.

“We also have some tremendous articles for sale, including a fantastic set of two albums of photographs showing the notables of the time living the high life at Blair Castle, Kenmore, Scone, Balkeilley, Moulin and Lindertis,” she revealed.

“We have identified Sir and Lady Hugh Munro, the Scottish mountaineer who was a founder member of the Scottish Mountaineering Club in 1889, and also the 7th Duke and Duchess of Atholl and their three daughters.

“We believe the photographer was a woman as she is shown taking photos by another photographer in three of the plates.”

A rare set of two volumes from around the turn of the 20th Century include the Registrum de Panmure records of Angus families of Maule, de Valonis, Brechin and Brechin-Barclay, united in the line of the Barons and Earls of Panmure

Hilary added: “The Panmure Papers are a selection from the correspondence of Fox Maule, second Baron Panmure and afterwards 11th Earl of Dalhousie, KT, GCB.”

Something else to whet the appetite is a 1799 report on the distilleries of Scotland, a fascinating read with all the illicit stills and worms listed that were seized, destroyed and sold for scrap.

“It records who owned them, how much they were fined and the quantities of spirit seized – some had a capacity of 52 gallons so it was no small business.

“It also lists licenced distillers who expanded outwith their licence and clearly it was a thriving business in the 1700s.”

The sale runs from 10am to 5pm.

We also have some tremendous articles for sale, including a fantastic set oftwo albums of photographs showing the notables of the time living the high life ... HILARY FARQUHARSON