The Merry Muses: A Choice Collection of Favourite Songs Gathered From Many Sources

Robert Burns

Published by Privately Printed, None Stated, 1827

About this Item

A scarce privately printed reissue of 'The Merry Muses,' limited to 99 copies, preserving bawdy verse attributed to Burns and long excluded from formal publication. Rebound in a later quarter straight-grained morocco with marbled paper boards.A limited edition, being one of 99 copies printed. Circulated clandestinely and marked "not for maids, ministers, or striplings," the work derives from an elusive original of circa 1800, titled "The Merry Muses of Caledonia," and was repeatedly reissued in small printings. Editions of this type are speculated to have been issued by the firm of John Camden Hotten.A scarce privately printed 1827 issue of The Merry Muses, the notorious collection of bawdy Scots songs traditionally associated with Robert Burns, though only a portion can be attributed to him with certainty.Robert Burns (1759-1796), Scotland"s national poet, is celebrated for his lyric verse in Scots and English, including Auld Lang Syne and Tam o" Shanter. Though best known for sentimental and patriotic poetry, Burns also collected and composed bawdy and satirical verse, according to the preface of this work, much of which was circulated privately.Many pieces are written in Scots dialect and reflect the irreverent culture of late eighteenth-century Scotland, with themes of sexuality and social satire. Bound in a later quarter straight-grained morocco with marbled paper boards.Externally, smart. Slight rubbing and bumping to extremities, resulting in minor loss to morocco and paper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean, with one or two minor handling marks to fore edge. Slightly uneven trimming to the text block, most noticeable to the lower margins. Very Good Indeed.

Seller Inventory # 1005H5

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Merry Muses: A Choice Collection of Favourite Songs Gathered From Many Sources
• Publisher: Privately Printed, None Stated
• Publication Date: 1827
• Binding: Leather
• Illustrator: None
• Condition: Very Good Indeed
• Book Type: book