EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED ALDINE EDITION OF BURNS' POEMS, EXQUISITELY BOUND

BURNS, Robert. The Crown Edition of the British Poets. Robert Burns. London: British Literary Society, circa 1893. Three volumes. 12mo, contemporary full crimson morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spines and covers with floral designs incorporating blue, green and white morocco inlays, raised bands, green morocco-gilt doublures with red morocco inlays in a floral design, watered silk endpapers, all edges gilt. $3500.

Limited "Aldine Poets" edition of the poems of Burns, number 4 of only 10 extra-illustrated sets with 8 hand-colored engravings and three original color drawings signed by artist, splendidly bound in full morocco-gilt with multi-colored morocco inlays in floral designs.

"No one even approaches Burns… in concentrated utterance of passion" (DNB). This three-volume set brings together the hundreds of poems, ballads and songs by 18th-century Scottish poet. His poetical works, including the major poems "Tam o' Shanter" and "The Jolly Beggars," were first collected in 1800, edited by James Currie, a Liverpool physician, in order to raise funds for Burns' family. "As a poet Burns stands in the front rank… He is the poet of freedom as well as beauty" (Allibone I:303). The "Aldine" edition of British poets, first brought out by the publisher William Pickering beginning in 1830, aimed to introduce scholarly editions of the classics in a smaller, more affordable format. Each volume in this set contains one original color illustration signed "Gabriel" by the artist.

Spines evenly toned. Fine condition.