195 years ago today, musician Alexander Campbell returned home from his song-collecting trip in the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles. He covered between 1100 and 1200 miles mainly by boat or on foot, gathering specimens for his Albyn's Anthology collection - which he would publish in two volumes between 1816 and 1818.
On 23rd October 1815, Campbell took the mail-coach from Stirling back to his home town, Edinburgh.
No emails or Facebook to check up on, though he had been away for three months. Just a mountain of snail-mail, including communications from all the people whose arms he had twisted to collect songs or tales for his project ...
Yes, RSAMD Whittaker Library has a facsimile copy of Albyn's Anthology. Naturally! Check the catalogue here.
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