Burns, Robert
£2,125
Rare Books, Maps and Manuscripts
Auction: 2 May 2012 at 12:00 BST
Description
Poems chiefly in the Scottish dialect. Edinburgh: printed for the author, and sold by W. Creech, 1787. Second edition, "The Edinburgh edition", 8vo, pp. xlviii, [9]-368, half-title, engraved frontispiece portrait, with misprints "Boxburgh" (for "Roxburgh") and "Stinking" (for "Skinking"), list of subscribers, nineteenth century red morocco gilt by Riviere, t.e.g., others uncut, a little very light foxing, a very tall copy in fine state
Footnote
Note: Egerer 2. "That the "Skinking" edition was the first printed has been deduced from the fact that it shows closer agreement with [Egerer] 1 (1786, Kilmarnock edition)". When John Wilson of Kilmarnock refused to print a second edition unless he received payment of £27, Burns decided to visit Edinburgh and find a printer/publisher himself. Probably through Sir John Whitefoord of Blairquhan Burns was introduced to the publisher William Creech and the publication of the Edinburgh edition was announced in an advertisement that appeared in the Edinburgh Advertiser on 17 April 1787. The work was priced at five shillings. 3000 copies were printed of which nearly 2,900 were subscribed for by 1,300 subscribers.