Our library has a large collection of Burns' editions many of which are now out of print.
The
club owns some original manuscripts including "The Twa Dogs"
and some original letters signed by Robert Burns himself.
A National Library of Scotland report of 2004 stated
that "material [is] well looked after" and that "Irvine
Burns Club should be commended for their care of this collection [the
honorary members' letters].
The library also houses many other works related to Scottish literature.
The library consists of some 2,000 carefully selected books donated and purchased over many years.
They are divided into:
Burns Works and Criticism
Burnsiana
General Literature and Poetry
Scottish History
Ayrshire History
All the works of John Galt (native of Irvine, 1779-1839)
The works of James Montgomery (1771-1854) another native of Irvine who was known as a Christian poet.
The works of Edgar Allan Poe, who spent some time at school in Irvine.
Records of the local newspaper 'The Irvine Herald' from 1870.
One item is the five-volume set "Original Scottish Airs" (songs collected by George Thomson, FAS, Edinburgh) (New Edition 1826), gifted to our Museum by Mrs W F Shankland of Kirkcudbright in 1987.
A special item is the Works of Burns, translated
into Albanian, by Dhori Qiriazi, who sent us two copies, one
of which is in our library, the other of which we have presented to the
Mitchell Library, Glasgow, to include in its excellent Burns section.
Robert Bërns, Poezi, dhe një ese nga T. Karlajli ne shqip
nga origjinali: Dhori Qiriazi (Poems: The essay of Thomas Carlyle and
Translations from the orginals by Dhori Qiriazi)
Dhori Qiriazi inscribed the volumes: "To Irvine Burns Club - In admiration for my most beloved poet and the most sincere poet in the world. 9 March 2003".
When we sent him booklets, he wrote back: "I saw the photo of the Irvine statue of Robert Burns and I think this is the best statue of the poet that I have seen till now. Also I wish to compliment Colin Hunter McQueen for his album of the life of Robert Burns. My translation of the verses of Robert Burns into Albanian lasted fifteen years and it is the first - and only - translation in Albanian of him from the original language. I am glad to say the poet has lost nothing of his flavour in Albanian. To the crown of world poetry Robert Burns, I am sure, is the brightest jewel. He is very sincere and wrote in an unaffected way the truth and only the truth." (See Qiriazi's photo by clicking the mouse above.)
For a flavour of Albanian, here are the lines from Tam O'Shanter, which start "O Tam, had'st thou but been sae wise" where lines 3-6 are telling Tam off for being a "drunken blellum":
O Tam, ti s'mbajte në rradake
asnjë këshillë të Kates sate:
"Një grosh nuk vlen, të thotë, lum miku,
kur flet me grahma pijaniku,
se të gjithë vitin, gjer në fund,
çdo ditë pazari bëhesh thumb!"
Kilmarnock
Edition
- Poems chiefly in the Scottish dialect, by Robert Burns - Printed by
John Wilson, Kilmarnock.
Only 612 copies were printed, cost 3/- (15p).
The club is proud to possess an original copy of this rare and famous
book. It is estimated that there are fewer than 30 known copies of the
book extant.
Edinburgh
Edition - Poems chiefly in the Scottish dialect, by Robert Burns
- Printed for the author and sold by William Creech, Edinburgh.
3,000 copies were printed, cost 5/- (25p) to subscribers, 6/- (30p) to
non-subscribers.
The book is dedicated to the noblemen and gentlemen of the Caledonian
Hunt. Apart from its contents it is also an interesting social document
as it lists in some 40 pages the majority of the subscribers. It is a
"who's who" of the aristocracy of Scotland: the legal profession:
army officers: clergy, of various denominations: medical profession: merchants
of all hues, personal friends and farmers.
We possess six of the original manuscripts which Burns sent to John Wilson, printer, Kilmarnock, for his famous Kilmarnock Edition, published on 31st July 1786.
The manuscripts, which bear the printer's marks, are the first five poems, viz.
The Twa Dogs The Holy Fair The Author's Earnest Cry and Prayer The Address to the Deil Scotch Drink The Cotter's Saturday Night |
 The lines above and below the words "Twa Dogs" are the printer's marks indicating that these words are to be printed in italics. |
These manuscripts were originally in the possession of Burns' friend Gavin Hamilton, lawyer in Mauchline and the poet's landlord at Mossgiel Farm.
They came into the possession of Hamilton Robinson, one of Hamilton's clerks, who later set up business on his own account as a lawyer in Irvine, where he died.
His widow married Mr Alexander Campbell, Burgher Minister in Irvine. In 1837 Mr Campbell gave the manuscripts to Mr Patrick Blair another Irvine lawyer, and founder member of the club.
These precious heirlooms have been jealously guarded and preserved for posterity. So far as can be ascertained they are the only surviving manuscripts of the Kilmarnock Edition.
Original Letters of Robert Burns
The Club possesses two original letters from Robert Burns to his friend David Sillar (purchased in 1975 from the Rev. David Sillar, Wetherby, Yorkshire, a great-great- grandson of Sillar).
Both letters were written from the poet's farm, Ellisland, Dumfriesshire, and are dated 5th August, 1789, and 22nd January, 1790. They are warm friendly letters and deal with Burns obtaining eleven subscribers for Sillar's own book of poems published in 1789.
Other Letters
A letter to Robert Burns from his brother Gilbert Burns dated Mossgiel, Mauchline, 4th September, 1790, dealing with family and farming matters.
A letter dated 29th March, 1834, from Robert Burns, eldest son of the poet to his sister Betty, recounting the death of their mother Jean Armour Burns.
A copy of a speech partly in poetical form given by David Sillar, as Vice-President of Irvine Burns Club at the inaugural celebration dinner in January, 1828. The manuscript is in Sillar's handwriting and was presented to the Club by his son Dr Zachariah Sillar, M.D., President of the Club 1830-31.
Testimony of Mary Lapraik, daughter of John Lapraik (1727-1807), farmer, Dalfram, Muirkirk, Ayrshire. Burns wrote two very fine verse epistles to Lapraik as "An Old Scottish Bard". The testimony details her personal knowledge of the Poet and was given before a panel of club members in 1840. It is signed Mary Lapraik.
