Robert Burns
Carr reported that he had published three editions of the poems of Robert Burns (1759-1796) and three impressions have been seen, all dated 1st March 1984, but all printed in different colours and with different colour paper and inks. The text is identical between impressions. Each represets a different print run, presumably of 3,000 copies, using the same printing blocks by the same printer (not named). There is no means of identifying the order of the impressions, so they have been guessed.
Carr added some notes by hand inside the rear cover and wrote: So far there are 63 books in this collection
. This title is unusual to be dated, and so precisely, even if not all impressons were published on that date, and for the number of titles to be given at that date. Rather than list all the titles so far published, starting with the first edition of Belloc Carr had started to note the number of other titles in the series, collection or library. The collective term differed until he settled with 'series'. It provides a useful reference point after almost 20 years of publishing small books other than one or two titles that were actually dated. However, the first edition of Smart also states that there are 63 books in this collection (Feb 84)
so if Smart preceded Burns, Smart should have been 62. This fits, because Belloc is the 61st and no 62nd book has been seen.
(Last updated on 6/11/2020)
SBP-BUR1: First impression?
Title: Robert Burns. Love Songs.
Publisher: J.L. Carr Publisher, 27 Mill Dale Road, Kettering
Year: March 1st 1984
ISBN: None
Size: 130 x 95 mm
Pages: 16
Staples: one
Binding: white glossy printed card covers
Paper: white
Editor: (J.L. Carr)
Cover artist: (Christopher Fiddes on front; J.L. Carr and others on rear)
Internal illustrations: 15 decorations and 15 decorated letters
Internal illustrator: none stated
Number in series: So far there are 63 books in this series
Colophon: sun face 1964
Telephone number: none
Printing history: none stated
Number of other titles listed: none
Printer: none stated
Content: Dates and short biography; poem by William Watson 'The Tomb of Burns'; lines of verse. Poems: A red, red rose; Mary Morison; My Jean; To Mary in Heaven; The bonnie wee thing; Bonie Lesley; O wert thou in the cauld blast; Highland Mary; The rigs o' barley; Green grow the rashes; Auld lang syne; John Anderson. Publishing details inside rear cover.
Rear and front covers (click to enlarge)
Inside rear cover (click to enlarge)
Notes: All three impressions have the same content and have the same date: 1st March 1984. The order is guessed.
SBP-BUR2: Second impression?
Title: Robert Burns. Love Songs.
Publisher: J.L. Carr Publisher, 27 Mill Dale Road, Kettering
Year: March 1st 1984
ISBN: None
Size: 130 x 94 mm
Pages: 16
Staples: one
Binding: pink matt printed card covers
Paper: cream
Editor: (J.L. Carr)
Cover artist: (Christopher Fiddes on front; J.L. Carr and others on rear)
Internal illustrations: 15 decorations and 15 decorated letters
Internal illustrator: none stated
Number in series: So far there are 63 books in this series
Colophon: sun face 1964
Telephone number: none
Printing history: none stated
Number of other titles listed: none
Printer: none stated
Content: Dates and short biography; poem by William Watson 'The Tomb of Burns'; lines of verse. Poems: A red, red rose; Mary Morison; My Jean; To Mary in Heaven; The bonnie wee thing; Bonie Lesley; O wert thou in the cauld blast; Highland Mary; The rigs o' barley; Green grow the rashes; Auld lang syne; John Anderson. Publishing details inside rear cover.
Rear and front covers (click to enlarge)
Inside rear cover (click to enlarge)
Notes: All three impressions have the same content and have the same date: 1st March 1984. The order is guessed.
SBP-BUR3: Third impression?
Title: Robert Burns. Love Songs.
Publisher: J.L. Carr Publisher, 27 Mill Dale Road, Kettering
Year: March 1st 1984
ISBN: None
Size: 131 x 95 mm
Pages: 16
Staples: one
Binding: pink matt printed card covers
Paper: off white?
Editor: (J.L. Carr)
Cover artist: (Christopher Fiddes on front; J.L. Carr and others on rear)
Internal illustrations: 15 decorations and 15 decorated letters
Internal illustrator: none stated
Number in series: So far there are 63 books in this series
Colophon: sun face 1964
Telephone number: none
Printing history: none stated
Number of other titles listed: none
Printer: none stated
Content: Dates and short biography; poem by William Watson 'The Tomb of Burns'; lines of verse. Poems: A red, red rose; Mary Morison; My Jean; To Mary in Heaven; The bonnie wee thing; Bonie Lesley; O wert thou in the cauld blast; Highland Mary; The rigs o' barley; Green grow the rashes; Auld lang syne; John Anderson. Publishing details inside rear cover.
Rear and front covers (click to enlarge)
Inside rear cover (click to enlarge)
Notes: All three impressions have the same content and have the same date: 1st March 1984. The order is guessed.