A VALUABLE “FIND”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19827, 29 April 1927, Page 8

A VALUABLE “FIND”

EARLY BURNS POEMS COPY FOUND IN SCOTLAND A remarkable literary find in unusual circumstances is reported from the Isle of Arran, on the west coast of Scotland. Tho tenant of Auchencaira Farm near Lamlash, on returning from a day’s labour at sheep-shearing, thrust his shears into a hole high up in the wall of his cottage. He noticed an obstruction, and on making closer investigation found what is believed tc be one of tho rare first editions of the w’orks of Burns. Tho Kilmarnock edition was published in 1786, and marked one of the most important epochs in the life of Robert Burns. In that year his farm at Mosgiel was not rloing well, and he had resolved to emigrate to Jamica. Lack of funds prevented his carrying out this plan, and his friend Hamilton persuaded him to publish his writings to obtain the necesary money. John. Wilson, a. Kilmarnock printer, agreed to undertake the publishing ,and 612 copies were printed in July, 1786. Burns received £2O for his share of the venture but tho work aroused so much attention that he changed his mind about leaving Scotland, and decided to remain. On the flyleaf of the copy just found w’hich is a small blue-covered octavo vohimne, is written the name of John Mclntyre, whose daughter has identified the book as one owned by her parents more than half a century ago. The auction sale of the Kilmarnock edition has grown steadily, with copies coming into the market very rarely. In 1858 a copy was sold for £3 10s, but Dr. Rosenbach, the Philadelphia expert, paid £1750 for the Alexander Miller copy at Sotheby’s in April of last year. No more than six copies in the original blue wrappers are known to exist.