“I remembered how you love Glasgow and I always see you doing your drawings, Al…” she’d said as she handed me the small brown A5 book. She’d found it whilst cleaning out her loft.
Anne had given me a book called “Glasgow. A Sketch Book By John Nisbet”.
I gave it a quick glance and thanked her very much. After all, It’s not every day that someone gives you a book of sketches from the 1970’s is it? Except this book wasn’t from the 1970’s at all! I’d just assumed it was! It just looked like a book from the 70’s. Very good condition but…old and…beige, y’know? Anyway, when I got home I properly looked at the book and discovered that it was from 1913! A sketch book of Glasgow from 100 years ago!
A few days later, I did the right thing and sold it on Ebay for a FORTUNE!
The End.
Just kidding. I actually tried to persuade Anne to take the book back. “It might be worth something! It’s a hundred years old!” I told her. But nope, the book was mine so thanks and thanks again Anne!
I remember once hearing that copyright expires after a period of 90 years or so. I do hope that’s true because I have decided to scan and upload each and every page of this wonderful book so that you can all enjoy it!
A lot has changed in Glasgow over the past 100 years and yet, looking at these drawings, Glasgow is still very recognisable…
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The Unravelling Of Al Cook... 
a real pleasure looking at those drawings,a very talented artist…
What beautiful drawings – lots of change in Glasgow, lots still the same. Have you researched the artist at all?
Thanks Alex. I did a little light digging around on the internet for John Nisbet but I didn’t really find out anything at all. I may try again at some point though.
Thank you so much for sharing these! I think the artist might be this guy: http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=100250
I just bought a copy of this book today. You’ve saved me the time of scanning it! 😀 Thanks.
John Nisbet was the architect of the four blocks bounded by Gt George St. Cranworth St. Kersland St. & Vinicombe St. He was also the Consulting Architect for the layout of the Queensborough Gardens area in Hyndland, Glasgow.