Burns, Robert.

8vo (230 x 140mm.), first edition, title within typographic border, typographic head- and tail-pieces, glossary, uncut in contemporary blue paper boards, in a green morocco folding case with the Newton monogram at the foot of the spine, and with loosely inserted autograph letter signed by Walter M. Hill, book-dealer, to A. Edward Newton, three pages, 8vo, headed stationery of Hotel Manhattan, Madison Avenue, New York, 31 October 1916, recased with backstrip repaired, covers lightly stained, a2 and a3 remargined, careful paper repairs at foot of gatherings A and B and at lower inner corners of Dd4-Ee3 and Ff2-4 with pen and ink facsimile where affecting text, chips at outer margins of Ff2 and 3 [A paper analysis for this lot is available from the department, upon request]

Walter M. Hill, Chicago book-dealer, letter to Newton loosely inserted, 31 October 1916; A. Edward Newton, Oak Knoll library bookplate; sale of his library, part one, Parke-Bernet, 16-18 April 1941, lot 300; William M. Fitzhugh, bookplate

Egerer 1; Rothschild 555; Grolier English 61

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate. A paper analysis for this lot is available from the department, upon request (020 7293 5295)
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

An exceptional copy of one of the greatest rarities of Scottish literature, from the celebrated Oak Knoll library of A. Edward Newton. This book was published on 31 July 1786 in an edition of 612, of which 350 copies went to subscribers; the edition sold out by September, leaving Burns with a substantial profit - he claimed to have made £20 but the true figure was probably significantly higher. The quality of the printing and the lack of errors in the Kilmarnock Poems has been much remarked upon, especially given that Wilson was a jobbing printer who had only been active for six years and mostly produced cards, letterheads and other ephemera. A second edition of 1000 copies was proposed in October but Wilson wanted an advance of £27 to cover the cost of the paper: "this you know is out of my power; so farewell hopes of a second edition till I grow richer!" (Burns to Aiken, ?8 October 1786). 

Copies in boards of the Kilmarnock Poems have always been highly prized. One such copy from the library of A.C. Lamb sold in 1898 for £572 5s, described as "the most amazing price ever realized for a modern book" (Grolier English), and this copy ("apparently the first copy in the paper-backed boards to appear at public auction in America") fetched $2950 at the Newton sale in 1930. Also very rare are examples in original wrappers: known copies are those in Burns's Cottage Museum at Ayr, the Berg Collection in the New York Public Library and the one in the collection formed by William C. Van Antwerp of New York (sold at Sotheby's, 22 and 23 March 1907, lot 19, £700, to Quaritch).