Robert Burns, Farmer-Poet, AN: "I allow for one cow's dung…"

Lot description

Robert Burns n.p., n.d. Robert Burns, Farmer-Poet, AN: "I allow for one cow's dung…" AN An autograph note in the hand of Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759-1796), comprised of approximately 42 words found on either side of a paper fragment likely clipped from an accounts or ledger book. N.d., n.p. but possibly dating from Burns's residency at Ellisland Farm, in Dumfriesshire, near the British/Scottish border, between 1788-1791. Inscribed on laid watermarked paper. A former collector has inscribed below Burns's note: "Autograph of Robert Burns, / the Scottish poet, presented / to John Sykes by his friend / Mrs Bell Irving, of / Ecclefechan." With a contemporaneous cross-out on line 4. Expected wear including flattened paper folds, isolated weathering, mounting traces verso, and a tiny hole just touching one word of the provenance inscription. Scattered pencil annotations by a former collector. A closed tear affecting the word "dung" along the top edge has been repaired. Else very good. 4.325" x 4.5." Burns's inscription recto reads, with unchanged spelling and punctuation: "I allow for one cow's dung, the use of his parlour for five months, & saving a piece of grass for 6 or 7 weeks the house rent, so he owes me 4L." Burns's inscription verso reads: "Sown - - - - - 108 441 Eaten with horses 339 total 780." Burns had spent much of his childhood and early adulthood working as a farm laborer, before encountering a surprising amount of success as a poet and lyricist. These notes appear to relate to agricultural and land management record-keeping. They could be part of a gentleman's agreement entered into by Burns and another party, perhaps someone subleasing from him. Burns was not really in a financial position to enter into a substantial lease until the late 1780s, and it is for this reason that we surmise it may date from his Ellisland Farm period (1788-1791). At Ellisland Farm, Burns composed two of his most beloved airs/poems, "Auld Lang Syne" and "Tam o' Shanter." In the spring of 1788, Burns signed a 76-year lease with Patrick Miller for the use of a 170-acre property called Ellisland Farm, located on the banks of the Nith River, in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, near the border with England. Burns later oversaw the construction of a 6-room "modest mansion" on the property to house him and his growing family. He also financed the construction of outbuildings, the planting of an orchard, and the purchase of animal livestock, including 9-10 dairy cows, 4 horses, and sheep. Though Burns was able to produce cheese, milk, and crops on the farm, it was still not financially solvent. In addition, his itinerant business as an Excise Officer in Nithsdale took him away for long periods of time. He and his family left the farm in late 1791. Provenance: The village of Ecclefechan is located about 25 miles southeast of Ellisland Farm, in Dumfries, Scotland. Local genealogical histories reveal that the "Bell-Irving" family was well-established in this geographical area that has such a strong Burns connection. This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses. WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!