If in this and other parts of this book the writer be thought to mention too much of books and owners, it must be borne in mind that to the writer a bookplate is first of interest as connected with a book, and a book is of interest for its subject and its owner’s identity.
Gordon of Buthlaw. In the General Armoury Gordon of Lessmoir, Aberdeenshire, is described as descended from William, second son of John Gordon of Scudargue, Baronet, 1625, and title dormant since 1839. The arms
are given as azure, a fess chequy argent and of the first, between three boars’ heads erased or. Then the Gordon of Buthlaw arms are distinguished from Lessmoir, with a mullet argent in chief for difference. Crest a Doric pillar or. Motto: “In recto decus.” This old bookplate here given is in a lately unearthed contemporary manuscript, headed: “Observations upon the arise and progresse of the late Rebellions against King Charles the first: In so far as they were carried on by a male contented party in Scotland, under the pretext of Reformation.” This is really the Memoirs of Henry Guthry, Bishop of Dunkeld, and differs in some points from the printed version. On the first leaf, down the margin, is written “Joannis Gordonii Buthlæi 1761.”
The Perceval arms, given by Burke, are argent on a chief indented gules, three crosses pattée of the field. Crest a thistle erect, leaved proper.
The Wilson arms are sable, a wolf salient or; in chief three estoiles of the last.