Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect -
Robert Burns
1787 - Printed for the Author, Edinburgh - Second (first Edinburgh) edition, first issue
In 1786 at the age of 27, although he had never published anything before, Burns decided to publish a volume of his poems. 612 copies were printed for him by John Wilson of Kilmarnock. They sold out within a month. There are estimated to be less than 70 complete Kilmarnock copies in existence today.
Encouraged by this success, and by a letter from an Edinburgh minister, Dr. Blacklock, Burns moved to Edinburgh instead of emigrating to Jamaica. He became a celebrity and in 1787 a new edition of 1500 copies, to be sold by subscription, was agreed upon with an additional 17 poems and five new songs.
A fine Riviere binding, with engraved frontispiece portrait of Burns by I. Beugo after Alexander Nasmyth First Issue, with the first state of the subscribers list with the misprint Duke of Boxburgh [xxxvii] instead of Duke of Roxburgh, and the infamously incorrect change of the word skinking (watery) in Address to a Haggis [page 263] to stinking (second state).
References: Egerer, Bibliography, 2. Burns Collection 22. Rothschild 556.
Octavo (binding size 21.7x13.8cm), pp. [2] xlviii 9-368 [2]. Bound with the half-title. Elegantly bound by Riviere & Son in full straight-grained crimson morocco, spine with gilt lettering and ruling, single gilt filet borders to uppers and edges of boards, twin gilt filet borders to turn-ins, all edges gilt. Condition: Fine but for a hint of foxing to the first and last few pages, in fine binding. Ref: 112168 Price: HK$ 30,000
Encouraged by this success, and by a letter from an Edinburgh minister, Dr. Blacklock, Burns moved to Edinburgh instead of emigrating to Jamaica. He became a celebrity and in 1787 a new edition of 1500 copies, to be sold by subscription, was agreed upon with an additional 17 poems and five new songs.
A fine Riviere binding, with engraved frontispiece portrait of Burns by I. Beugo after Alexander Nasmyth First Issue, with the first state of the subscribers list with the misprint Duke of Boxburgh [xxxvii] instead of Duke of Roxburgh, and the infamously incorrect change of the word skinking (watery) in Address to a Haggis [page 263] to stinking (second state).
References: Egerer, Bibliography, 2. Burns Collection 22. Rothschild 556.
Octavo (binding size 21.7x13.8cm), pp. [2] xlviii 9-368 [2]. Bound with the half-title. Elegantly bound by Riviere & Son in full straight-grained crimson morocco, spine with gilt lettering and ruling, single gilt filet borders to uppers and edges of boards, twin gilt filet borders to turn-ins, all edges gilt. Condition: Fine but for a hint of foxing to the first and last few pages, in fine binding. Ref: 112168 Price: HK$ 30,000