The Old Man of Lochnagar
Children's Picture Book Bedtime Story Royalty & Monarchy Scottish Folklore Environmental Fiction Collectible Royal Ephemera British Illustrated Antiquarian
The Old Man of Lochnagar is the charming 1980 picture-book debut of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales—now King Charles III—written for his younger brothers and beloved by readers from four to forty-plus. Set in a cave high in Scotland’s Cairngorms, the story follows a solitary old man whose bathtub turns into a whirlpool and who befriends bubble-blowing haggis, jittery sea monsters and a host of other Highland oddities. The rhythmic, read-aloud text and the gentle environmental message make it a perennial bedtime favourite, while the royal provenance and Hugh Casson’s exuberant water-colours turn every page into a piece of collectible royal ephemera.
This first-edition hardcover arrives complete with its original dust jacket (price-clipped, as was common) and all of Casson’s full-colour plates intact. A neat gift inscription on the front pastedown adds a personal touch without diminishing value; pages are otherwise crisp and the binding remains tight, so the book can be read aloud or displayed with confidence. For collectors of modern royal memorabilia, Scottish folklore or mid-century British picture books, this copy offers the dual thrill of owning both a delightful children’s tale and an early literary artefact from the then Prince of Wales.
Parents searching for a story that bridges nursery rhyme cadence with older-child humour, or gift-givers who want a keepsake that links today’s monarchy to a classic bedtime ritual, will find The Old Man of Lochnagar an enchanting choice. Its scarcity in clean, first-state condition—especially with illustrations by celebrated architect Sir Hugh Casson—makes every well-preserved copy a sought-after addition to shelves of royal, children’s or illustrated antiquarian books.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
Buy Now