Letter & tartan sample, associated with William Wilson & Sons, Bannockburn, near Stirling

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This letter, addressed to William Wilson & Sons of Bannockburn near Stirling, is an order for supplying lengths of tartan as per the attached sample. The letter is dated Montrose, 16 January 1796.

The pencil inscription underneath the sample reads, 'OLD STEWART?'

Founded in 1778, the Highland Society of London began a collection of tartans in 1816 by appealing to the clan chieftains and heads of families to donate authenticated samples of their tartans. By about 1820, 40 samples were bound into this collection.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-000-912-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.TTC 3.1 - 39
• Date: 1796
  
• Material: Tartan
  Letter
  
• Dimensions: 416 mm H x 295 mm W
  
• What: Letter
  
• Subject: Costume - tartan - Wilson of Bannockburn (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: Wilson of Bannockburn, Bannockburn (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Stirlingshire, Bannockburn
  
• Event:
• Description: 39 letters with accompanying pieces of clan tartans or drawings of setts, sent to Messrs Wilson of Bannockburn as orders
  
• References:
  • Calder, Jenni (ed). The Wealth of a Nation. Edinburgh & Glasgow: NMS & Drew, 1989, pp 173-4. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: