BIB_ID
80598
Accession number
MA 47, MA 50
Creator
Burns, Robert, 1759-1796.
Display Date
1792-1796.
Credit line
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1906.
Description
64 items, unbound ; ca. 25 cm
Notes
About 90 poems are included as portions of the letters in this collection; see individual records for titles, first lines, and descriptions poems included.
This collection was formerly referred to as the "Dalhousie Manuscript."
Watermark: Unidentified page. Crown above man on horse, similar to watermark on MA 50.12. Watermark, beta radiograph. Man, Horse, crown.
This collection was formerly referred to as the "Dalhousie Manuscript."
Watermark: Unidentified page. Crown above man on horse, similar to watermark on MA 50.12. Watermark, beta radiograph. Man, Horse, crown.
Provenance
In Thomson's possession until his death; purchased by Fox "the Bison" Maule, second Baron Panmure and eleventh earl of Dalhousie, at the sale of Thomson's effects, 17 November 1852; by descent to George Ramsay, twelfth earl of Dalhousie; by descent to John William Maule Ramsay, thirteenth earl of Dalhousie; by descent to Arthur George Maule Ramsay, fourteenth earl of Dalhousie; purchased by Pierpont Morgan from the London dealer J. Pearson & Co., 1906.
Summary
Collection consists of 55 letters from Robert Burns to the Edinburgh publisher and music collector George Thomson (MA 47.1-31; MA 50.1-18, 20-24, 26), dated 1792-1796; 1 letter from Robert Burns to Alexander Cunningham (MA 50.19), dated 1795; 1 letter from Robert Burns to John Ballantine (MA 50.27), dated 1787; 1 autograph manuscript copy of a poem intended for George Thomson (MA 50.25); 1 letter from John Syme to George Thomson (MA 50.28), dated 1797; 4 engraved portraits of Robert Burns (MA 40.32-33; MA 50.29-30); and 1 engraved portrait of George Thomson (MA 50.31). Most letters to Thomson contain poems and songs (totaling ca. 90), many intended for publication in Thomson's A Select Collection of Original Scotish Airs. Many letters also discuss edits or alterations to Burns's verses as proposed by Thomson, and many contain further edits or notes in the margins by Thomson. Some letters reference Burns's inspirations, and one briefly discusses his creative process (MA 47.27). Items are described individually in 64 records (MA 47.1-33 and MA 50.1-31); see related records for full description.
Catalog link
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