An extremely rare first edition of poetry from Robert Burns is set to go up for sale in an online auction later this month.

The book, which is 237 years old, was first published by a Kilmarnock printer in 1786 when they decided to take a risk on the poet’s talent. It’s considered one of the most important works in Scottish literature history and could fetch as much as £60,000 in auction when it goes under the hammer on September 19.

Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, sold for just three shillings when it was first printed and the entire run of 612 copies sold out within a month of being made public. The book was published when Burns was 27 and the Kilmarnock Edition features many of his best known poems which were largely written as Mossgiel farm in Mauchline, Ayrshire.

To a Mouse, Address to the Deil, The Twa Dogs and Halloween all form part of the first edition and were written while he lived and worked with his brother – Gilbert – on the farm.

It was also during his time at the farm that he met a group of six girls and wrote the poem The Belles of Mauchline, with one of them later becoming his wife – Jean Armour. She was described as the ‘jewel of them a’ and they had nine children together, with the last of those born on the day of Burns’ funeral in July 1796.

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It was his desire to get married to Jean – who pregnant at the time – that led to the publication of the first volume of poetry. Her father was opposed to the marriage and Burns planned to emigrate to Jamaica. A local lawyer, Gavin Hamilton, suggested that the voyage be financed through the publication of poems and the success of the work meant Burns abandoned his plans to leave Scotland.

There are believed to be 88 surviving copies of the first edition with 15 of them in private hands. This copy is one of those and was rebound in the nineteenth century by prestigious bookbinder Bedford.

Also included in the sale is an original manuscript copy of the National Covenant for Scotland for the burgh of Peebles (1638-9), estimated to fetch between £10,000 and £15,000.

One of the principal documents in the history of Scotland, the agreement was signed by thousands of Scots who opposed the English doctrinal changes imposed by Charles I on the Church of Scotland. There were widespread protests across the country with supporters later known as Covenanters. 

Cathy Marsden, Head of Books & Manuscripts at Lyon & Turnbull said: “It is extremely exciting to come across one of the first edition copies of the single most famous volume in Scottish cultural heritage. From humble Ayrshire origins, Burns was to become an international literary star. Although very confident in his own abilities, even he could not have predicted such success. 

“We are also offering a copy of The National Covenant of Scotland, another key document in Scotland’s history. One of a handful remaining in private ownership, it is the fourth known copy to appear at auction.

“We anticipate a great deal of interest in the forthcoming sale which has 300 lots of rare books and manuscripts."