Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush by Ian Maclaren (1895)

By Ian Maclaren (John Watson)
Published by Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1895

A beautifully preserved 1895 edition of Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush by Scottish author and minister Ian Maclaren (pseudonym of John Watson). This beloved collection of tales is set in the fictional village of Drumtochty in rural Scotland, weaving tender portraits of faith, kindness, and the quiet heroism of everyday life.

Bound in decorative tan cloth with a pastoral Art Nouveau–inspired design of a winding country path and flowering brier in dark green, this edition embodies the charm of late 19th-century book art. The interior is printed on fine paper with clean typography and includes an early ownership inscription dated 1895, adding a touch of provenance and sentiment.

Originally published in 1894, Maclaren’s work became an international bestseller, admired for its Scots dialect storytelling and depiction of moral depth in small communities.

Binding tight and design bright.Inscription on front endpaper (“Miss M. E. Green from George, 1895”).

Condition: Very Good.

Size: 3 3/4” X 6 1/4”

Price: $72

A lovely piece of late Victorian literature—beautiful both for its moral warmth and its finely illustrated binding.