Merry Muses
The title The Merry Muses was used indiscriminately in connection with Burns's name, although much of the material pbd was not by him. The only reliable text is that of 1959 and re-issues. For contents of various vols, tee bibliography by G. legman in 1965 facs of 1799 edn.
The Merry Muses of Caledonia: a Collection of Favourite Scots songs, ancient and modern, selected for the use of the Crochallan Fencibles. 1799. There are 2 known copies of this work, one with the date torn from title-page. This date was only established with the discovery in 1965 of a 2nd copy, the contributor’s. There is no mention of Burns’s name in the book. Ed G. Legman, New Hyde Park NY 1965 (type facs, with bibliography from Cunningham ms etc).
The giblet pye: being the heads, tails, legs and wings of the anacreontic songs of the celebrated R. Burns, G. A. Stevens, Rochester, T. L[it]tle [Thomas Moore]. Shamborough: ptd for John Nox [spurious imprint] [1806]. Only known copy W. N. H. Harding, Chicago. The fornicator’s court, by R. Bums. [1823], [c. 1890], Metuchen NJ 1928, nd; as The court of equity: an episode in the life of Bums, ed D.R., Edinburgh 1910, 1916.
The merry Muses: a choice collection of favourite songs. Dublin [c. 1825].
The Merry Muses: a choice collection of favourite songs. Glasgow [c. 1830], Dublin [c. 1830]. These edns are not the same as the earlier Dublin edn.
The merry Muses: a choice collection of favourite songs. Dublin 1832. Copy in Hornell Collection, Kirkcudbright County Lib.
The merry Muses: a choice collection of favourite songs. [c. 1840]. Copy in Hornell Collection.
The merry Muses: a choice collection of favourite songs. 1843, 1843 (for c. 1880).
The merry Muses: a choice collection of favourite songs gathered from many sources, by Burns. 1827 (actually London ? ptd by J. C Hotten ? 1872 ?); other edns (all dated 1827) with supposititious dates 1880, 1881 (3 variants), 1903, 1903, 1905, 1905, 1910, 1920, 1930 (dated); 'verbatim reprint of the 1827 edn’, [c. 1925].
Burns’ Merry Muses: a choice collection of the favourite Scots songs selected for the use of the Crohallan Fencibles. Edinburgh 1884. Spurious imprint ?
Forbidden fruit: a collection of popular talcs by popular authors [including Burns]; also the expurgated poems of Burns known as Burns’ Merry Muses. [c. 1890]. Copy in Murison Collection, Dunfermline Lib.
Merry songs and ballads prior to the year 1800. Ed J. S. Farmer 5 vols [ 1895]—7; ed G. Legman, New York 1964 (with selections from Merry Muses).
The merry Muses of Caledonia (original edn): a vindication of Burns in connection with the above publication. [Ed D. McNaught], [Kilmarnock] 1911 (text, inaccurate, of the 1799 edn; limited to 100 copies), [Philadelphia c. 1927].
The merry Muses of Caledonia. Ed J. Barke and S. G. Smith, with prefatory note by J. DeL. Ferguson, Edinburgh 1959, New York 1964, London 1965, 1966, New York [1967].
The merry Muses: a selection of favourite songs. San Francisco 1962, 1962.
The merry Muses and other Burnsian frolics. Ed E. L. Randall 1966.
The merry Muses. Tonawanda NY [c. 1900?).
The merry Muses.[probably 1890-1920]. Copy in Murison Collection, Dunfermline Lib.
The merry Muses of Burns, made in fac-simile of original edn. [USA c. 1907], [c. 1910?]. Edns can be distinguished by the claim on title-page of the earlier that it was ptd for members of the Caledonian Soc, whereas later edn bears no such claim. Neither edn a facs of any previous edn. Both claim that 'the original manuscript of these poems was sold at Christie’s, London, England, in 1907 for £1,800’. This is pure fantasy.
