Rare illustrated books in the National Library of Scotland

This is a chronological list of works by Robert Burns that have been illustrated up to 1923, giving a description of the images, the names of the book's illustrators, and bibliographical details. Click on a link for brief information about the illustrators, which appears on the next page.

Poetry: original and selected
Engraved title page showing the Muse of Poetry sitting beside a bust of Burns. Published in Glasgow by Brash and Reid, 1795[6]. Illustrators: George Sanders or Saunders; Robert Scott. (Egerer: 32)
Shelfmark: L.C.2391

Poems by Robert Burns with his life and character
Vol 1: Engraving of a scene from The Holy Fair. Vol 2: Engravings of scenes from The Cotter's Saturday night and Tam O' Shanter. Published in Edinburgh by Oliver in 1801. Illustrators: Alexander Carse; Robert Scott. (Egerer: 54)
Shelfmark: Hall.199.k

Stewart's edition of Burns's poems, including a number of original pieces never before published; with his life and character
Engravings of The Holy Fair, The Cotter's Saturday night and Tam O' Shanter. Published in Glasgow by Niven, Napier and Khull in 1802. Illustrators: Alexander Carse; Robert Scott; James Denholm. (Egerer: 69)
Shelfmark: L.C.135

The poetical works of Robert Burns with his life
Vols 1 and 2: Engravings and tail pieces illustrating Burns's poems. Published in Alnwick by William Davidson in 1808. Illustrators: John Thurston; Thomas Bewick. (Egerer: 108)
Shelfmark: Hall.199.j

The poetical works of Robert Burns
Vol 1: Engravings of Address to the deil and Among the riggs o' barley. Vol 2: Engravings of Afton Waters and Tam O' Shanter. Published in London by James Goodwin in 1811. Illustrators: William Henry Brooke; Samuel MacKenzie; Charles Muss; James Wallis. (Egerer: 132)
Shelfmark: Hall.199.j

The poetical works of Robert Burns with his life
Vol 1: Frontispiece engraving of The holy fair, title page vignette, woodcuts of scenes from poems. Published in Alnwick by W Davidson in 1812. Illustrators: John Thurston; Thomas Bewick. (Egerer: 135)
Shelfmark: X.171.h

The poetical works of Robert Burns, including the pieces published in his correspondence and reliques, with his songs and fragments. To which is prefixed a sketch of his life
Frontispiece engraving of a scene from Tam O' Shanter, title page vignette. Published in 1813 in London by T Cadell and W Davies, and in Edinburgh by W Creetch. Illustrators: Thomas Uwins; John Scott. (Egerer: 149)
Shelfmark: I.38/1.i

The poetical works of Robert Burns
Vol 2: Engraving of Lament for James Earl of Glencairn. Published in London by W Lewis in 1816. Illustrators: William Henry Brooke; James Wallis. (Egerer: 192)
Shelfmark: Hall.199.j

The works of Robert Burns, with an account of his life and a criticism of his writings, by James Currie
Vol 1: Frontispiece engraving of a scene from Tam O' Shanter, title page vignette depicting a scene from Fall of Fyers. Vol 2: Frontispiece engraving of a scene from The Cotter's Saturday night, title page vignette depicting The twa dogs. Published in Montrose by Smith and Hill in 1819. Illustrators: William Home Lizars; David Lizars. (Egerer: 221 variant)
Shelfmark: Hall.149.j

Fac-simile of Burns' celebrated poem, entitled the Jolly Beggars, from the original manuscript in the possession of Thomas Stewart, Greenock
Engraving of a scene from the poem on a separate sheet. Published in 1823 in Glasgow by James Lumsden; in Edinburgh by William Blackwood; in London by Longman. Illustrators: William Allan; Alfred William Warren.
Shelfmark: NG.1166.a.10

The works of Robert Burns, with a complete life of the poet and an essay on his genius and character, by Professor Wilson
Vol 1 and Vol 2: Engravings of settings and persons mentioned in Burns's works. Published in London by Blackie in 1846. Illustrators: mainly David Octavius Hill (1802-1870). Also: William Richardson; Peter Lightfoot; Robert Sands.
Shelfmark: Hall.197.a

The poetical works of Robert Burns
Engravings of different scenes from and settings of Burns's poems by various artists and printmakers. Published in London by Groombridge in 1857. Illustrators: Frontispiece portrait by Alexander Nasmyth. Other illustrations are mainly by David Octavius Hill. Also: William Camden Edwards; Edward Goodall; Frederick Goodall; Angelo Robert Brandard; William John Cooke; William Miller; Robert Graves. (Egerer: 606)
Shelfmark: L.C. 136

The Cotter's Saturday night by Robert Burns
Added illustrated title page, engravings of scenes with quotes from poems below, vignettes at head and foot of each page. Published in New York by Charles Scribner in 1867. Illustrators: F A Chapman; J Filmer.
Shelfmark: NG.1170.a.12

The complete works of Robert Burns containing his poems, songs and correspondence with a new life of the poet and notes critical and biographical by Allan Cunningham
Steel engravings of scenes from Burns's poems. Published in London by Virtue in 1889. Illustrators: mainly John Massey Wright. Also: J Charles Armytage; J Rogers; Edward Scrivens.
Shelfmark: Hall.264.a

Tam O' Shanter
Coloured plates of scenes from Tam O' Shanter. Published in London by Jack in 1906. Illustrator: Monro S Orr. (See our Tam O' Shanter page.)
Shelfmark: 5.2570

Songs and ballads of Robert Burns
Coloured plates illustrating nine of Burns's poems. Published in London by Hodder and Stoughton in 1923. Illustrator: Nora England.
Shelfmark: X.170.b

About the illustrators | Burns volumes at the National Library