Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect

Of the 612 copies that Wilson printed, 84 are now known to survive. A few of the surviving copies have manuscript annotations where Burns has filled in names he had left blank in the printed text. ==The first reprinting: the Edinburgh Edition==

In 1787, Burns travelled to Edinburgh with the intention of organizing a second edition. He was introduced to publisher William Creech and printer William Smellie, and agreed with them that the new edition should include many additional poems and commission the famous frontispiece portrait, engraved by John Beugo from a painting by Alexander Nasmyth. Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (Edinburgh Edition) was published in April 1787. It contains an elaborate dedication to the Caledonian Hunt, an aristocratic society which had subscribed for 100 copies, in which Burns announces that he aims to be a National [i.e. Scottish] Bard, not just a regional one. There was still a glossary, bit it too was much expanded from that in the first edition, now explaining Scottish words for readers who did not themselves speak Scots. The new expanded edition cost 5 shillings, bound in paper-covered boards. The original print-run was for 2,000 copies, but pre-orders were heavy, including copies for a London bookseller Strahan, and the print-run was increased to 3,250 copies, necessitating reprinting some of the earlier sections. Later that year, Strahan would be the primary publisher of the first London edition, with the same title, though that was still printed by Smellie in Edinburgh. ==Facsimiles==

Only 612 copies of the Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect were printed by John Wilson in 1786 and the publisher James McKie saw that most collectors of Robert Burns's works would be unable to acquire a copy and to satisfy this demand and satisfy his own interests as an admirer of Burns he produced the first facsimile edition for collectors in 1867 in a print run of 600 copies. Each copy was signed by James McKie, and, unlike most later facsimiles, these were bound in blue-gray paper covered boards with a buff paper spine, mistakenly imitating the binding of the Edinburgh edition rather than the wrappers of the Kilmarnock. A miniature facsimile issued in a protective case with a magnifying glass in the 1890s and was of benefit to troops in the trenches in World War I due to its protective case and convenient size. == Contents ==

Source: • The Twa Dogs, a Tale • Scotch Drink • '''''The Author's earnest cry and prayer, to the right honorable and honorable, the Scotch representatives in the House of Commons''''' • The Holy Fair • Address to the Deil • The death and dying words of Poor Maillie • '''''Poor Mallie's Elegy''''' • To J. S**** • A Dream • The Vision • Halloween • '''''The auld Farmer's new-year-morning Salutation, to his auld Mare, Maggy, on giving her the accustomed ripp of Corn to hansel in the new year''''' • '''''The Cotter's Saturday Night, inscribed to R. A. Esq''''' • To a Mouse, on turning her up in her Nest, with the Plough, November, 1785 • Epistle to Davie, a brother Poet • '''''The Lament, occasioned by the unfortunate issue of a friend's amour''''' • Despondency, an Ode • Man was made to mourn, a Dirge • Winter, a Dirge • A Prayer in the prospect of Death • To a Mountain-Daisy, on turning one down, with the Plough, in April, 1786 • To Ruin • Epistle to a young Friend • On a Scotch Bard gone to the West Indies • A Dedication to G. H. Esq • '''''To a Louse, on seeing one on a Lady's bonnet at Church''''' • Epistle to J. L*****k, an old Scotch Bard • Epistle to the same • Epistle to W. S*****n, Ochiltree • Epistle to J. R******, enclosing some Poems • Song, It was upon a Lammas night • '''''Song, Now westlin winds, and flaught'ring guns''''' • Song, From thee, Eliza, I must go • The Farewell • Epitaphs and Epigrams • '''''A Bard's Epitaph''''' == See also ==