"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."
— Mark Twain

Glasgow: James Lumsden and Son, 1838. [Scottish Banking] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.70 [2]. Publisher's watered-silk-effect cloth over boards, with titles and crest stamped in gilt to upper. All edges gilt. A rather exquisite pencil sketch of the Clyde with square-rigged ships moored either side to verso of rear blank. Some spotting to preliminaries. Very light rubbing to cloth. Near fine. A highly active Whig business man, and native of Glasgow, Lumsden took great interest in the city's civic institutions by sitting on the council, and by serving as a magistrate and as a patron of various charities. He first became involved with banking in 1830 during the formation of Glasgow Union Bank, and later had some influence over the creation of the Glasgow Savings Bank in 1836. In 1838 he acted as one of the principal founders of the Clydesdale Banking Company, which was immediately successful, and served as Chairman twice before retiring permanently in 1848. This is a rare publication seen at auction just once in the last fifty years. Item #55656
Price: £750.00