At the Writers’ Museum, Edinburgh
20 Jul 2026 – 31 Aug 2026
As part of an ambitious project by BHLM to bring ‘The Kilmarnock Burns’ to places throughout Scotland for viewing and interaction, a copy of the celebrated first edition of Robert Burns poems and songs was on loan to the Writers’ Museum in Edinburgh. This event marked the 240th anniversary of the publication on 31 July 1786 of what many regard as Scotland’s most important book.
‘The Kilmarnock Burns’ was printed 240 years ago in this Ayrshire town by John Wilson and published on 31 July 1786. Burns raised funds from friends to finance the publication and in exchange they received copies. Today we would call it ‘crowdfunding’. From the run of just over 600 copies only about 90 originals survive. Each copy is different, reflecting ownerships over two and a half centuries. This is one of a number of copies at Blackie House.
The title-page inscription of this particular copy reads, ‘Helen Montgomerie From her Friend J.S.’ It dates from the time of publication. ‘J.S’. is likely to be Burns’ friend James Smith of Mauchline, who on 8 August 1786 bought 40 copies and is the subject of Burns’ poem in the volume ‘To J.S.’. Alternatively the J.S. could be Jean Smith, James’ sister, who was one of Burns’ ‘belles of Mauchline’. The identity of Helen Montgomerie remains unknown. Come to the Writers’ Museum to see if you can decipher the rubbed out inscription just above the word ‘BY’.
This copy is in a fine red leather cover by the London binder Francis Bedford that dates from the 1880s. After Helen Montgomerie, this volume has had several notable owners, mainly in the USA, including Robert Borthwick Adam (1833-1904) and A.S.W. Rosenbach (1876-1952) before it returned to Scotland and became the first copy to enter the collection at Blackie House.
To celebrate the loan, the Writers’ Museum hosted a special event on Friday 28 August from 2-4pm, featuring live music and readings of Burns’ poetry.
