8vo (165 x 102 mm). (Title-page crudely reinserted to dedication leaf with old cellotape, with short closed tears at gutter, browning or spotting throughout.) Contemporary sheep, red morocco lettering-piece gilt (joints splitting, front joint crudely repaired with cellotape, extremities worn). Provenance: Alexander Low (early ownership signature on title-page and front free endpaper); A.E. Moreau, University of Pennsylvania (ownership inscription on rear pastedown).

FIRST AMERICAN EDITION OF BURNS'S FIRST BOOK. "The honour of publishing the first American edition of Burns's poem goes to Peter Stewart and George Hyde of Philadelphia. They did not issue any proposals for printing. Instead they determined to release an edition of the POEMS and let them sell themselves on their own merit: resorting to a form of advertising, common enough in the eighteenth century, they reprinted many of the forthcoming poems in The Pennsylvania Packet, from 24 Jul. 1787 to 14 Jun. 1788. The Philadelphia edition actually appeared on 7 Jul. 1788" (Egerer). Ibid. 10; ESTC W27705; Evans 20991; Colby Library Quarterly, p.234 (which incorrectly lists the NY edition first which appeared on December 17); Library Company of Philadelphia "First American Editions" p.11; Grolier English 100, 61 (first edition); Sabin 9407 (incorrectly calling for a portrait); Shipton and Mooney 20991.