Cairney states that local tradition in Kilmarnock has it that an extra six were printed for Burns as 'author's copies', making 618 in total.

"[13] Nearly twice the length of the Kilmarnock Edition of 1786 it printed in octavo format, measuring 22.3 x 14.3 cm, untrimmed, had 343 pages, a 38-page subscribers list and an expanded 24-page glossary or 'dictionary' of Scots words for those unfamiliar with the language and with an added emphasis on national rather than the Kyle district dialect.

[15] For reasons unknown a few words from the original glossary were omitted from the expanded versions, such as Taet meaning a small quantity.

Burns added a number of annotations to clarify or enhance the understanding of his works such as with Halloween on page 156 and his notes on the 'Cove of Colean' (Culzean) as the Elfhame or home of the fairies.

[20] Gilbert Burns recalled that Robert's friend John Ballantine, Provost of Ayr in 1787, had offered to lend money for the publication of the 'Edinburgh Edition' as well as advising him to contact an Edinburgh publisher.

[21][22] Two songs that Burns had intended to add to the 1787 edition were rejected as "defamatory libels against the fastidious powers of Poesy and Taste" by a jury of Literati.

[25] William Smellie had printed a first run of pages as far as the gathering or signature 'Mm' (page 281) when he discovered that he had insufficient copies to cover all the subscribers and due to a shortage of type he was forced to reset the printing blocks and repeat the run as a partial second impression.

[3] In the haste to reset the blocks a large number of mainly minor errors were introduced, the most famous of which is the substitution of a 't' for a 'k' that converted the Scots word 'skinking' (meaning watery) into 'stinking'.

In the announcement of the publication William Creech is named as the publisher however the statement goes on to say that "This book is printed by subscription for the sole benefit of the author".

[29] A portrait had not originally been advertised to potential subscribers, however when it became clear that 3000 or so copies were to be printed the decision was made to include one.

Some may have been sold separately in addition to the three dozen on India paper at a shilling each that Burns sent with bread and butter letters[30] to those that had shown him kindness whilst he was in Edinburgh.

[8] William Creech commissioned Alexander Nasmyth to paint Burns' portrait from which John Beugo engraved the copper plate required for the printing process.

[32] An intriguing incident is that Burns had heard that Creech was secretly publishing another edition and to prove this he visited Beugo and asked for the engraved plate used to print the frontispiece portrait.

Nicoll, High Street, Edinburgh' who was the 'Willie' of Willie brewed a peck o'maut, inscribing it as from 'the author'.

It had been bound in with twenty seven extra blank pages and upon returning it to Geddes in 1789, the owner found that Burns had written twelve poems in it.

[42][43] and the actual intention is quoted as To bespeak (order in advance) the new edition and hand him a suitable gift of money.

[44] Included in the Notanda of the Meeting of the Caledonian Hunt at Edinburgh on 10 January 1787:[45] "A motion being made by the Earl of Glencairn, and seconded by Sir John Whitefoord in favour of Mr Burns, Ayrshire, who had dedicated the new edition of his poems to the Caledonian Hunt, the meeting was of the opinion that in consideration of his superior merit, as well as of the compliment paid to them, Mr Hogart should be directed to subscribe for one hundred copies in their name, for which he should pay Mr Burns £25, upon the publication of his book."

Burns sent no less than 100 copies of his newly published work to John Ballantine, a merchant banker and Provost of Ayr, requesting that he make arrangements for them to be sold locally and later he requested that some of the proceeds be sent to Gilbert Burns who was struggling to make a success of farming at Mossgiel.

John was the Justice of the Peace and magistrate who is said to have married Robert and Jean in a secret civil ceremony circa April 1788.

[48][49] Other 18th century editions are those published in Dublin, Belfast, London, Philadelphia[50] and New York,[51] not always with the authors knowledge or with the permission of William Creech, the copyright holder.