Highland Heritage Press

With Peter MacDonald Tartan Historian – I just got recognised as one of their rising fans! 🎉

HHP Stock announcement: Please note we have only ten copies of Caithness Castles, and only twelve copies of Heraldry and Tartans of the Clan Gunn left in stock. Order now to be sure of obtaining copies of these limited editions books.

Another nice quote from John Calder Gunn in The Netherlands:

"Hallo Michael, just to let you know that "Caithness Castles" arrived day before yesterday, delighted with content and the attention to detail and the wealth of information and facts not only about the Castles, but also the important houses of the county, many of which I knew of and have been in while growing up in Thurso.
Fascinating stuff indeed, I will be forwarding my payment for two copies of "Sons of the Sword" forthwith.
Best regards, Calder Gunn"

With his latest order, John Calder Gunn in The Netherlands has now become one of the Top Publishing Angels (TPA) of Highland Heritage Press, and so entitled to the additional discount which will be applied to the last of the five books in the series “North Highland Studies” which concentrates on the clans and castles of the counties of Caithness and Sutherland. The TPA Discount is an additional sum which will be deducted if asked for prior to invoicing from the fifth and final invoice in the series. Thank you to those of you who have become Publishing Angels – without you these unique books would never have been published.
Would you like to become a HHP Publishing Angel? It’s simple, just order any one or more of the five titles in the series “North Highland Studies” (see below for list of titles and availability). Send your full postal address, including ZIP/Post code, request an invoice and pay. Your book/s will be mailed to you immediately on payment, or immediately following publication (see below for publishing dates).
Our books are all produced to exacting standards. Each title is fully and carefully researched, and has many illustrations, including early engravings, aquatints, genealogical charts, and specially commissioned maps and plans. All are case bound, limited editions of 150 copies only. All copies are numbered and signed by the author prior to despatch. They are never to be repeated collectors’ items, as there will never be a reprint.
HHP North Highland Studies: List of Current and Forthcoming Titles:
1 Caithness Castles and other fortified buildings: a genealogical history and guide to the strongholds and lairds’ houses of the County of Caithness in the northern Highlands of Scotland.
Published 2022. ISBN 1 897955 13 8. List Price: GB£45.50 plus post and packing.
Copies available for immediate despatch now.
2 The Heraldry and Tartans of the Clan Gunn: a history of the armorial ensigns, crests, mottoes, and tartans associated with the surname of the Scottish Clan and Family of Gunn, detailing their antiquity, origins, symbolism, and mentions in records.
Published 2023. ISBN 1 897955 33 2. List Price: GB£45.50 plus post and packing.
Copies available for immediate despatch now.
3 Sons of the Sword: a genealogical history of the Hereditary Chiefs of the Clan Gunn, descendants of the Pictish Mormaers of Catt, the Viking Jarls of Orkney/Caithness, and the Hereditary Crowners of Caithness.
Forthcoming, to be published March/April 2024.
ISBN 1 897955 78 2. List Price: GB£59.50 plus post and packing.
Advance Subscribers Price: GB£49.50 plus post and packing.
4 Cadet Branches and Septs of the Clan Gunn: a genealogical history of the main cadet branches of the Clan Gunn, descending from the younger sons of the Caithness Crowners, and other sept families.
Forthcoming, to be published Winter 2024.
ISBN 1 897955 28 6. List Price: GB£43.50 plus post and packing.
Advance Subscribers Price: GB£39.25 plus post and packing.
5 The Mowats: A genealogical history of the Scottish Clan and Family of Mowat, Barons of Loscragy/Balquholly in Aberdeenshire, Lairds of Freswick, Auckingill, Brabstermire, and Harpsdale, and Wadsetters of Swiney in Caithness. Together with a notice of the Cadet Branch of Mowat of Hugoland in Shetland and Norway.
Forthcoming, to be published Spring 2025.
ISBN 1 897955 38 3. List Price: GB£39.50 plus post and packing.
Advance Subscribers Price: GB£29.50 plus post and packing.

Another lovely message about Heraldry and Tartans of the Clan Gunn from Jonathan Wilson, USA:
"I love my copy! The content is articulate and a joy to read"

Had a wonderful compliment from one of our Publishing Angels, John Calder Gunn, who wrote:
"Received my copy of Heraldry and Tartans yesterday. Despite thast I haven't had much time to delve into the material more than an hour or so, I'm deeply impressed and I may say in awe as to the content, the diligence and research it must have taken, I love it!
Yours sincerely, John Calder Gunn

Highland Heritage Press - About our Publications
We are a small independent publisher of academic historical works mainly in the field of Scottish North Highland Studies.
We specialise in books recounting the histories of the Clans and Castles of the Northern Highlands of Scotland.
Each title is very carefully researched.
All our publications (see current list below) are printed to exacting standards in Case Bound Limited Editions of 150 copies only. This means there will never be anymore than 150 copies of each title.
All copies are numbered and signed by the author prior to despatch.
Each signed copy of each title is a collector’s item which will become more valuable with time.
We hope you will enjoy reading our books and absorbing the detailed information they contain.
List of Current & Forthcoming Titles by Michael J Gunn:
Caithness Castles and other fortified building: A genealogical history and guide…
Heraldry and Tartans of the Clan Gunn: A history of the Armorial Ensigns, Crests, Mottoes, and Tartans…
Sons of the Sword: A genealogical history of the Hereditary Chiefs of the Clan Gunn…
Cadet Branches and Septs of the Clan Gunn …
The Mowats, Barons of Loscragy/Balquhollie and Lairds of Freswick …
Other books by Michael J Gunn:
Manual of Document Microphotography
Historical Dictionary of the Albanian Tribes, Clans, and Families

Well done our Publishing Angels – we have 22 confirmed orders for “Sons of the Sword: A genealogical history of the Hereditary Chiefs of the Clan Gunn …”
Ony 53 more to go and the book’s publication is assured.

SCOTTISH NORTH HIGHLAND STUDIES FORTHCOMING Spring 2024
"Sons of the Sword: A genealogical history of the Hereditary Chiefs of the Clan Gunn, descendants of the Pictish Mormaers of Catt, the Viking Jarls of Orkney, and the Hereditary Crowners of Caithness"
Michael J. Gunn
With a foreword by Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, Bart, KC, Albany Herald Extraordinary. This is a completely new and authoritative history of the Clan Gunn and its country. The book consists of 393 pages, with 120 colour and black and white illustrations, including 21 genealogical charts, 11 maps, and 18 appendices, and contains an immense amount of original material about the clan that has never before been published in one volume. More than sixty years of research at most of the major archives and libraries in the UK have gone into its production and the contents are fully referenced. Wherever possible only primary resource materials have been consulted, including many original manuscripts, charters, official records and family documents. Many contributions have been made by Gunn clan folk from around the world.

This book dispels many myths and legends and uncovers much exciting new information. Discover the true origins of the Clan and learn of the real nature of the so-called feud between the Gunns and the Keiths. Revealed here for the first time is the truth behind the non-existent Crowner “George Gunn” and discovered is the true identity of the Crowner known to Gaelic tradition as Am Braisdeach Mor. Explained for the first time is the accurate history of the castles and strongholds associated with the Clan Gunn chiefs. Read the true genealogy of the chiefs and their branch families, here corrected and published for the first time.

Superbly illustrated with maps, battle plans, genealogies, photographs, heraldry and other pictures, many specially commissioned for this work.

Contents Foreword by TBA ● Acknowledgements ● Preface ● Author’s Introduction ● Chapters: 1 Origins of the Clan Gunn (795-1090) ● 2 The Norse Period (1090-1266) ● 3 Origins of the Hereditary Crownership of Caithness ● 4 The Thirteenth century Crowners (1266-1400) ● 5 The Fourteenth century Crowners (1301-1400) ● 6 The Fifteenth century Crowners (1399-1488) ● 7 Decline of the Caithness Crownership (1460-1488) ● 8 The Last Hereditary Crowner of Caithness (1470-1488) ● 9 The Crownership - Abolition and aftermath (1488-1502) ● 10 Sutherland – Kilearnan and a new beginning for the Gunn chiefs ● 11 The Years of Blood (1490-1637) ● 12 The Mackeamishes of Kilearnan and Navidale (1518-1690) ● 13 The Mackeamishes of Badanloch and Wester Helmsdale (1690-1785) ● 14 Cadet branches of the Mackeamishes ● 15 The Jacobite Risings (1689-1754) ● 16 After the ’45 (1746-1788) ● 17 The Highland Clearances -Fragmentation of the Clan (1780-1860) ● 18 The Clan Gunn Chiefship Case (1799-2016) ● 19 George Gunn of Rhives and his family (1787-1864) ● 20 The Old Family Trees and Genealogies ● Appendices: 1 Legal Records of the Caithness Crowners; 2 Carta Coronatorum 1362; 3 Manifesto of Duncan Anderson 1357; 4 Letter Patent to the Crowner of Caithness 1358; 5 Safe Conduct for Thomas Crowner of Scotia 1382; 6 Inquest of Magus Crounar, Wick 1438; 7 Sasine of John Macdonald Earl of Ross to Thomas Crounar 1464; 8 Rev Alexander Sage MS.1801 ● Abbreviations ● Bibliography ● Notes and References ● List of Illustrations, Maps and Genealogical Charts ● Glossary ● Index.
Limited case bound edition 150 copies signed and numbered. ISBN 897955 00 6
A4, 403 pages, 125 illustrations
List price: GBPounds £59.50 plus post & packing.

Special pre-publication price (advance subscribers only): GB£49.50 plus post & packing.

Highland heritage press

Glad to be rid of 2023, a very difficult year.
Here's to an improvement in 2024

Happy New Year to all my family and friends!
And to all the Publishing Angels who purchased my books

Wishing all our clients, past present, and future, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

It's coming! The book you have been waiting for - the most detailed and highly researched genealogical history of the ancient hereditary Chiefs of the Clan Gunn.

Christmas is coming and we still have copies of Caithness Castles and Heraldry and Tartans of the Clan Gunn available for purchase. These Limited Case Bound Editions, signed by the author, make excellent Christmas presents for member of the Clan Gunn and for anyone interested in the Clans of the Northern Highlands of Scotland.

And here is Peter MacDonald’s
Foreword by Peter Eslea MacDonald TD, Tartan Historian and Head of Research at The Scottish Tartans Authority
The history of tartan is a broad and complex subject. Even the study of the tartans associated with a single clan can take a lifetime’s work to understand and record accurately. This is the first serious review of the tartans associated with Clan Gunn in more than half a century and is by far the most comprehensive ever written.
Beginning with an overview of the history of tartan, Michael Gunn explores the origin of the term, its history in Scotland along with that of Highland Dress more widely. Reviewing the 19th century growth and interest in recording tartans the author goes on to explore each of the Gunn tartans in detail together with others that share a similar structure, or are based on it.

This is an excellent book bringing together the history and heraldry of the Clan Gunn, which as a Herald, I commend not only to members of Clan Gunn, but also anyone interested in the history of Caithness where the Gunns play an important role in that history.
Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, Albany Herald Extraordinary
Court of the Lord Lyon, 19 January 2023”

First here is Sir Crispin’s:

“Michael Gunn has had a long term interest and expertise in the history and heraldry of Clan Gunn, of Norse origin, in Caithness. This expertise shines through the text of this excellent and interesting book. The author has found and collected together an extensive list of Gunn coats of arms from Scotland and around the world. The book starts with an outline of heraldry in Scotland with reference to the different heraldic traditions of the Picts, Scots, Vikings and Normans including the ‘Raven Banner’ the famous battle flag of Jarl Sigurd the Stout and the Dunvegan Am Bratach Sith (The Fairy Flag) of the Macleods. The Gunn genealogy and the history of the chiefs, the Mackeamishes, is woven through the text. It goes on to list and describe the numerous Gunn coats of arms found by the author, both pre and post the establishment of the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland in 1672. He explains that some were granted or recorded on an erroneous understanding of the Gunn genealogy. The book is beautifully illustrated with numerous examples of the Gunn coats of Arms. It is good that the book also links in the history of the Clan Gunn tartan.

Announcement from Highland Heritage Press
Heraldry and Tartans of the Clan Gunn
Michael J Gunn
We have just received these two glowing Forewords, one by Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, Bart, KC, Albany Herald Extraordinary at The Court of the Lord Lyon (for Part 1, Heraldry, of Michael’s book), and by Peter Eslea MacDonald TD, Tartan Historian and Head of Research at The Scottish Tartans Authority (for Part 2, Tartans).

Heraldry and Tartans of the Clan Gunn
Michael J Gunn
We have just received this glowing Foreword by Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, Bart, KC, Albany Herald Extraordinary at the Court of the Lord Lyon to Part 1, Heraldry, of Michael’s book:
“Michael Gunn has had a long term interest and expertise in the history and heraldry of Clan Gunn, of Norse origin, in Caithness. This expertise shines through the text of this excellent and interesting book. The author has found and collected together an extensive list of Gunn coats of arms from Scotland and around the world. The book starts with an outline of heraldry in Scotland with reference to the different heraldic traditions of the Picts, Scots, Vikings and Normans including the ‘Raven Banner’ the famous battle flag of Jarl Sigurd the Stout and the Dunvegan Am Bratach Sith (The Fairy Flag) of the Macleods. The Gunn genealogy and the history of the chiefs, the Mackeamishes, is woven through the text. It goes on to list and describe the numerous Gunn coats of arms found by the author, both pre and post the establishment of the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland in 1672. He explains that some were granted or recorded on an erroneous understanding of the Gunn genealogy. The book is beautifully illustrated with numerous examples of the Gunn coats of Arms. It is good that the book also links in the history of the Clan Gunn tartan.
This is an excellent book bringing together the history and heraldry of the Clan Gunn, which as a Herald, I commend not only to members of Clan Gunn, but also anyone interested in the history of Caithness where the Gunns play an important role in that history.
Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, Albany Herald Extraordinary
Court of the Lord Lyon, 19 January 2023”

Coming soon! the latest book by Michael J Gunn

The King’s Piper plays ‘Auld Lang Syne’ at Buckingham Palace.Wishing a very happy 2023.#HappyNewYear

Caithness Castles: "What a wonderful book, so well produced and very well packaged"
(recently received comment from Keith Nicholson, Caithness).

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Dear Readers Please note
HIGHLAND HERITAGE PRESS: CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS
We shall be closed for the Yuletide Season from Wednesday 14th December 2022 until Wednesday 18th January 2023.
All of us at HIGHLAND HERITAGE PRESS wish all our clients, past, present and future, a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, A SUPER HOGMANAY, AND A VERY HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR!

FORTHCOMING PUBLICATIONS. The following books by M J Gunn are expected to be released during 2023-2024:
Heraldry and Tartans of the Clan Gunn: A history of the armorial ensigns, crests, mottoes, and tartans associated with the Scottish Clan and Family of Gunn.
Available March 2023.
Sons of the Sword: A genealogical history of the Chiefs of the Clan Gunn, descendants of the Pictish Mormaers of Catt, the Viking Jarls of Orkney, and the Hereditary Crowners of Caithness.
Available August 2023.
Cadet Branches of the Clan Gunn: A genealogical history of the MacRob Gunns of Braemore, the Mac’ic-Iain Gunns of Strathy, and the MacEanruig Gunns of Dirlot and other families.
Available March 2024.

Heraldry and Tartans of the Clan Gunn - back cover