Edinburgh: Printed for the Author, and sold by William Creech, 1787. Second edition. Edinburgh: Printed for the Author, and sold by William Creech, 1787. Second edition. First Edinburgh edition (first published in Kilmarnock in 1786). First issue, with “Roxburgh” misprinted “Boxburgh” on p. xxxvii in the list of subscribers and “skinking” on p. 263, line 13 (in later issues, the word was misprinted as “stinking”). In a fine and exceptionally beautiful jeweled Cosway-style binding by Sangorski & Sutcliffe at their very best, ca. 1925 (stamp-signed in gilt on rear turn-in). Octavo (212 x 127 mm). xlviii, [9]-368 pp. Complete with half-title and engraved frontispiece by John Buego after Alexander Nasmyth, with tissue guard. The contents occasionally foxed with a few faint marks, discreet professional repairs to small closed tears at fore-edge of A1, 2Y2, and 2Y3. Internally a Near Fine copy, crisp and wide-margined.

Bound in full purple crushed levant morocco, both covers triple-ruled in gilt and elaborately tooled in gilt. Twenty-four large flowers on each cover done in cream and yellow morocco onlays. Large circular device in the center of both boards with a different quote by the poet on each. Spine with five raised bands, elaborately decorated and lettered in gilt in compartments. Five of the compartments further decorated with large leaf sprays, each with nine onlaid violet flowers. Double-ruled gilt board edges, elaborate gilt turn-ins with another two quotes from the Poet, including the immortal “Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot And Never Brought To Min’ We’ll Take A Cup O’Kindness Yet For Auld Lang Syne.” The inside front cover in full brown crushed levant morocco with a very fine recessed oval hand-painted portrait miniature under glass, surrounded by a double leaf design in gilt set with four amethyst and two opal gemstones. The rear inside cover in full brown crushed levant morocco, purple silk endleaves, all edges gilt. Housed in the original cream watered silk lined dark red morocco clamshell case. Case expertly repaired and a little rubbed.

Preceded by only the rare Kilmarnock edition of 1786, this second edition was published in an edition of approximately 3,250 copies on April 17, 1787. Two printers were used, resulting in variations in some sheets of the edition. This edition includes twenty-two new pieces, including “To a Haggis,” and the first appearance in print of “Death and Doctor Hornbook,” which had been omitted from the Kilmarnock edition.

Egerer 2; Lamont 2; Rothschild 556. Near Fine (Item #7429)