i) Moir, Alexander. Disputatio juridica, ad tit. XXII lib. XLIII Digest. de fonte... publicae disquisitione subjicit Alexander Moir. Edinburgh: Balfour and Smellie, for sale by William Gibb, 1782, 4to (230 x 173mm.), with printed dedication leaf to William Forbes of Pitsligo, contemporary red morocco gilt fan binding, gilt edges, armorial bookplate of Sir William Forbes;
ii) Bell, Archibald. Disputatio juridica ad tit. II lib. II Digest. quod quisque Juris in alterum statuerit, ut ipse eodem Jure utatur... publicae disquisitioni subjicit Archibaldus Bell. Edinburgh: Balfour and Smellie, 1798, 4to (232 x 183mm.), with printed dedication leaf to William Forbes of Pitsligo, contemporary red morocco gilt binding in the style of Scott of Edinburgh, gilt and gauffered edges (2)

The Forbes Baronetcy was created in 1626 for Sir William Forbes (d. circa 1650) by James VI in the Barontage of Nova Scotia. The majority of the works offered here were acquired by the sixth Baronet, also William (1739-1806), who added Pitsligo to his title in 1781. He was an eminent Scottish banker and benefactor, good friend of James Boswell and Samuel Johnson (see lots 45-46), and finally succeeded in recovering the Pitsligo estates forfeited after the Jacobite rebellion of 1745. His son William, the seventh baronet, beat Sir Walter Scott to the hand of the renowned beauty Williamina Belsches Stuart (1776-1810), and it was with their marriage that the family moved to her family seat, Fettercairn House in Kincardineshire, Aberdeenshire.

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Davis Gift 284 is an Edinburgh binding, also on a Balfour and Smellie imprint, which uses many of the same tools as the 1798 binding. It is likely that this was an in-house bindery, working in a similar style to the Scotts of Edinburgh; for similar tools, see J.H. Loudon, James Scott and William Scott, Bookbinders (London, 1980).