The Works of Robert Burns With His Life by Allan Cunningham.
London: Cochrane and M'Crone, 1834. First edition thus. Hardcover. This is a full, eight-volume set of The Works of Robert Burns – the first to be edited by, and prefaced with a foundational biography of Burns by, Burns’s fellow poet, Allan Cunningham. This particular set is noteworthy for retaining the publisher’s patterned green cloth bindings and for exceptionally clean, well-preserved, and substantially unread condition.
Each spine features an elaborately stylized gilt lyre design within which is printed the title and volume number, the lyre surmounted by a gilt Scottish thistle. The contents of each volume are bound with pale yellow endpapers, untrimmed page edges, and wood engravings on each frontispiece and title page with a tipped-on tissue guard between.
Condition is very good or better. All eight bindings are square, tight, complete, and unfaded. We note only modest blemishes and shelf wear. Shelf presentation is superior. The contents of all eight volumes are complete and bright, with a crisp, unread feel. We note uncut signatures in five of the volumes: II, IV, V, VI, and VII. Trivial spotting appears almost entirely confined to the frontispiece and title pages. The sole previous owner name is the same across all eight volumes – “John Gregory”, with an underscoring flourish on each upper front free endpaper recto. The only other markings we find are a few ink squiggles on the Volume V rear endpaper.
Allan Cunningham [pseud. Hidallan] (1784–1842) was, akin to Burns, a poet and songwriter. Cunningham’s father was a friend and neighbour of Burns during the poet's Ellisland period. Though perhaps less lascivious than Burns (who wasn’t?), Cunningham was a word-and-mischief-loving kindred spirit; “In leisure moments he read all the books he could procure, picked up popular poetry, was a welcome guest at village merrymakings, and fond of practical jokes.” Cunningham “heard Burns recite 'Tam O'Shanter', and later walked in the poet's funeral procession.” This particular edition of “The Works and Life of Burns, in eight volumes, which appeared in 1834, was the last work of importance during his life.” Cunningham suffered a paralytic attack in 1839 (presumably a stroke) and died in 1842. Cunningham’s biography of Burns, in which he “endeavoured to relate the chequered fortunes, delineate the character, and trace the works of the Illustrious Peasant with candour and accuracy”, fills the first volume of this edition.
Of Robert Burns (1759-1796), Printing and the Mind of Man asserted “There has never been a more truly national poet than Burns. Himself of humble origin he spoke the language of the people and his songs are part of the air breathed by Scots the world over. It has been said of the Lyrical Ballads that no clue can be gained from them that ‘men eat or drink, marry or are given in marriage’. None could say that of Burns. He may have gone to the other extreme, but his lyrics are as full of life as he was himself. They are the ‘the links, the watchwords, the masonic symbols of Scottish life.’”
References: Egerer 368; PMM 373; ODNB. Item #008542
Price: $700.00