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POEMS, CHIEFLY IN THE SCOTTISH DIALECT
by BURNS, ROBERT
- Used
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
McMinnville, Oregon, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Printed for A. Strahan; T. Cadell; and W. Creech, 1787. Third Edition; First London Edition, First State (with "stinking" instead of "skinking" in "To a Haggis"). 212 x 126 mm. (8 1/2 x 5"). xlviii, [13]-372 pp. With half title and the subscriber list [to the Edinburgh edition].
Pleasing contemporary tree calf, smooth spine rebacked preserving most of original backstrip (small restoration at head), this divided into panels with gilt floral centerpiece by gilt chain roll, red morocco label (corners neatly restored). In a fine modern brown buckram chemise and matching mottled calf-backed slipcase. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Burns. Front pastedown with engraved armorial bookplate of Edward Goulburn. Gibson, p. 6; Egerer 2. ◆Mild offsetting from turn-ins' glue, occasional minor foxing or trivial marginal stains, but an excellent copy, clean and fresh internally, the expertly restored binding unworn.
This is the first London printing (following an Edinburgh edition the same year and the extremely rare Kilmarnock first edition of 1786) of one of the most famous poetic publications in history. Burns issued the poems at the age of 27 in order to raise passage money for a voyage to Jamaica, where he had been offered an agricultural post on a plantation. At a time when his contemporaries were searching for the "natural bard" and, in the process, had unearthed poetical threshers, poetical milk maidens, and poetical cobblers, the charming plowman Burns delivered his simple and beautiful lyrics with most propitious timing. He found himself famous almost at once, and his fame has not faltered over time, even though, after the appearance of the present work, he did little during the rest of his life except write songs and drink..
Pleasing contemporary tree calf, smooth spine rebacked preserving most of original backstrip (small restoration at head), this divided into panels with gilt floral centerpiece by gilt chain roll, red morocco label (corners neatly restored). In a fine modern brown buckram chemise and matching mottled calf-backed slipcase. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Burns. Front pastedown with engraved armorial bookplate of Edward Goulburn. Gibson, p. 6; Egerer 2. ◆Mild offsetting from turn-ins' glue, occasional minor foxing or trivial marginal stains, but an excellent copy, clean and fresh internally, the expertly restored binding unworn.
This is the first London printing (following an Edinburgh edition the same year and the extremely rare Kilmarnock first edition of 1786) of one of the most famous poetic publications in history. Burns issued the poems at the age of 27 in order to raise passage money for a voyage to Jamaica, where he had been offered an agricultural post on a plantation. At a time when his contemporaries were searching for the "natural bard" and, in the process, had unearthed poetical threshers, poetical milk maidens, and poetical cobblers, the charming plowman Burns delivered his simple and beautiful lyrics with most propitious timing. He found himself famous almost at once, and his fame has not faltered over time, even though, after the appearance of the present work, he did little during the rest of his life except write songs and drink..
Reviews
On Jan 25 2019, a reader said:
I have a book of the rare edition of the kilmarnock burns poems published 1786. I also have.the poetical works of robert burns XXXIV
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Details
- Bookseller
- Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Medieval Manuscripts
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- ST16366a
- Title
- POEMS, CHIEFLY IN THE SCOTTISH DIALECT
- Author
- BURNS, ROBERT
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- Third Edition; First London Edition, First State (with "stinking
- Publisher
- Printed for A. Strahan; T. Cadell; and W. Creech
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1787
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
- Keywords
- BIB-WEEK-VBF
Terms of Sale
Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Medieval Manuscripts
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About the Seller
Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Medieval Manuscripts
Biblio member since 2006
McMinnville, Oregon
About Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Medieval Manuscripts
Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books an Manuscripts was established in 1978 on a ping pong table in a basement in Kalamazoo, Michigan. From the beginning, its founder was willing to sell a range of material, but over the years, the business has gravitated toward historical artifacts that are physically attractive in some way--illuminated material, fine bindings, books printed on vellum, fore-edge paintings, beautiful typography and paper, impressive illustration. Today, the company still sells a wide range of things, from (scruffy) ninth century leaves to biblical material from all periods to Wing and STC imprints to modern private press books to artists' bindings. While we are forgiving about condition when something is of considerable rarity, we always try to obtain the most attractive copies possible of whatever we offer for sale.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Calf
- Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Buckram
- A plain weave fabric normally made from cotton or linen which is stiffened with starch or other chemicals to cover the book...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- First State
- used in book collecting to refer to a book from the earliest run of a first edition, generally distinguished by a change in some...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Half Title
- The blank front page which appears just prior to the title page, and typically contains only the title of the book, although, at...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Rebacked
- having had the material covering the spine replaced. ...
- Bookplate
- Highly sought after by some collectors, a book plate is an inscribed or decorative device that identifies the owner, or former...
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