Beschreibung:

BURNS, ROBERT. Poems, chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. Kilmarnock: Printed by John Wilson 1786. 8vo, 202 x 125mm. (8 x 4 15/16in.), contemporary calf, spine gilt and with red morocco label, leather worn but binding sound, foot of spine chipped, dampstaining and soiling affecting lower portions throughout, tears from margins into text at a3, B1 and M3, less severe tears, mostly following some chain lines along lower margins, affecting about 20 further leaves, a few other stains, upper free endpaper excised leaving a ragged stub, red morocco pull-off case by Riviere. FIRST EDITION OF BURNS'S FIRST BOOK, one of 612 copies. Ashley 1: 141; Egerer 1; Grolier English 61; Rothschild 555. Provenance : The surname of a contemporary owner's signature erased from the title-page (and a secretarial version of the signature similarly erased on verso), 18 of the blank spaces for names have been supplied in ink by a similar contemporary hand throughout the text.