Today’s “top tip” is very close to my heart. Born and bred in Scotland, I feel passionate about my heritage even though I left for warmer shores nearly 15 years ago.
Burns night is celebrated every year on the 25
th of January, not just in Scotland, but all over the world.
On the 25th January, every year, we commemorate the life of the bard (poet) Robert Burns.
The day celebrates Burns’ contribution to Scottish culture. His best-known work “Auld Lang Syne” is a Hogmanay classic.
This historical relic dates back to 1796. It was last seen in public in 1896: the famous “Burns Bible”.
Take a look at the bible illustrated below as read by Robbie Burns days prior to his death.
The History
Prior to his death, Robert Burns had been misdiagnosed with gout, by his personal physician, Dr Maxwell.
On Dr Maxwell’s recommendation, Burns travelled to Brow Well, a mineral spring in the Parish of Ruthwell, 10 miles from Dumfries where Burns lived at the time.
Burns was to taste the foul tasting spring water in the hope that it would alleviate his symptoms. Part of the treatment involved wading neck deep into the cold waters of the Solway Firth.
Not the ideal therapy for a man actually suffering from a chronic heart complaint...
At the time, Burns had alienated many of his friends including his Muse, Mrs Dunlop. On Saturday 12th July 1796, Burns wrote her a letter from Brow Well:
“Madam I have written to you so often, without receiving an answer, that I would not trouble you again, but for the circumstances I am in. An illness which has long hung about me, in all probability it will speedily send me beyond that bourne whence no traveller returns...
...Farewell!!”
Records show that during his stay at Brow Well, Burns was so penniless that, in times of need, his Landlord would travel a full mile to replenish his exhausted stock of port wine, without payment. The port was prescribed in evidently large quantities to improve Burns’ ailing strength.
As his health deteriorated he begun to age prematurely and fell into fits of despondency with only his pocket bible for comfort.
The somewhat antiquated pocket bible has been well-used, most noticeably during the last few days of his life. Burns died 4 days after leaving Brow Well.
A fascinating fragment of Scottish history
The Burns Bible is referenced in the famous “Relics of Burns” printed in 1880:
“It is a small pocket copy in an extremely dilapidated condition and according to tradition it is the one that was used by the poet during the last weeks of his life: and may possibly have been the one to which reference is made in the following passage from ‘Burns in Dumfriesshire’:
“One of the few things he took with him to Brow was an old pocket Bible, and who shall rationally venture to say that when studying it, as he did, he found ‘no balm in Gilead’ when all medicinal influences proved in vain.
Copies of both Burns in Dumfriesshire (printed 1870) and Relics of Burns (printed 1880) are included with the Bible as is an 1893 newspaper cutting stating:
“At the time Burns was staying at the Brow Well he used the Bible, which he took with him when he went there to recruit his health”.
The Burns Bible is an outstanding relic of Scottish heritage and was last seen in public at the Burns Exhibition in Glasgow in 1896.
It is preserved in a velvet-lined blue Moroccan box lettered in gilt with the words “Burns Bible”.
Burns remains popular around the world and his literary influence is well documented.
John Steinbeck took the title of his 1937 novel “Of Mice and Men” from a Burns poem. Even Bob Dylan highlighted Burns’ 1794 song “A red red rose” as the lyric that had the biggest effect on his life.
In Russia, Burns was elected the “People’s Poet” and a 1924 translation of his works sold over 600,000 copies and his poetry continues to be taught in Russian schools.
In England, Burns has been honoured on postage stamps three times, and is now portrayed on the reverse side of the £5 coin.
And at home in Scotland, he is pictured on the £5 note of the Clydesdale Bank.
Burns night - coming round again this Monday - is celebrated the world over. Bizarrely, it is actually more widely observed than the official national day, St Andrew’s Day.
Supreme Rarity
What makes this so special is the fact that there is very little in the way of Burns memorabilia available.
The vast majority of items are held in museums around the world. Few pieces can offer such affinity as his personal Bible. The Burns Bible is rightly acknowledged as one of the finest pieces of Burns history.
This is perhaps the most emotive piece of memorabilia and history I have ever handled being of such a personal nature.
I think this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase and hold in your hands a book once owned by Scotland’s most famous writer…
The Bible that was party to his innermost thoughts only days before his death.
So What Is It Worth?
It is always very difficult to put a price on something like this...
The fact is - there is no market price. It has not appeared on the market for sale... until now.
I really struggled to decide on the price. A unique item of supreme historical value. My first thought was £100,000.
Then I pondered...
What I do is sell unique pieces at a fair price to both collectors and investors.
By selling at a fair price, I hope investors will see pleasing returns. This helps me build a long lasting investment relationship, and ultimately those relationships improve my overall business.
For that reason, this incredible piece of Scottish history is available to you at just £25,000 ($41,250).
You will need to be quick
The response to my last e-mail on the Washington piece overwhelmed me. Proof that my price was too low!
Sadly, there is a simple fact in my business...
The things I can buy all day long, I can’t sell. The things I can sell all day long, I can’t buy. Unique items can sell only once!
If this is of interest to you, please respond promptly to ensure you are not disappointed.
You can call me on +44 (0)1481 708273 or email mhall@stanleygibbons.co.uk.
This is part of my own country’s history. I have enjoyed the privilege of handling it. Now it is someone else’s turn. I do hope it goes to a good home.