Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. by BURNS, Robert - 1787

Edinburgh: Printed for the Author, and Sold by William Creech,, 1787. The first Scottish edition First Edinburgh edition, first issue, elegantly bound. This edition, the second overall, was preceded only by the rare Kilmarnock edition of 1786, and contains 22 new pieces, including To a Haggis and Death and Doctor Hornbook.
Robert Burns (1759-1796) also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, the National Bard, the Bard of Ayrshire, and the Ploughman Poet, is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, as in the present volume, and was a pioneer of the Romantic movement. His popularity is such that a celebratory dinner, Burns Night, is held annually on the 25 January.
This copy has the first issue points: the misprint "Duke of Boxburgh" for "Roxburgh" in the list of subscribers on p. xxxvii, and the correct printing of the Scots word "skinking" (meaning watery) on p. 263, later misprinted as "stinking". Octavo (203 x 119 mm). Late 19th-century red morocco by Rivière & Son, spine with blind ruled raised bands, lettering and elaborate gilt decoration in compartments, covers and board edges ruled in gilt, floral gilt roll to turn-ins, blue coated endpapers, edges gilt. Engraved portrait frontispiece. Bound with half-title. Superficial split to upper joint, but firm, foxing to outer leaves, contents generally clean and crisp. A very good copy indeed, presenting attractively in the binding. Egerer 2; ESTC T125274; Lamont 2; Rothschild 556.