The first edition of Ian Hamilton Finlay's important second collection of poetry; his first to be printed in Scotland (his debut was printed in America). Written in broad Glaswegian Scots to the chagrin of Hugh MacDiarmid, who described it as written 'in the language of the gutter', it sold out four editions within a year, according to the afterword to the 1996 edition by Alec Finlay.

This copy contains two folded typewritten sheets which function as press releases for press and poet. The first is on Finlay's own Wild Hawthorn press - described here as 'a new publishing house set up in Edinburgh' and its 'dada section' The Wild Flounder Press - giving the house's policy as 'NOT BACK TO DUNBAR, BUT BACK TO HUMANITY'. The second typewritten sheet is a capsule biography and encomium for Ian Hamilton Finlay, describing him as 'one of Scotland's most controversial new poets' and giving his age as 35; he turned 36 a month after publication and a few months before the second edition of February 1962.

The third sheet is an advertising sheet for forthcoming Wild Hawthorn Press publications.

First edition; 8vo; text and illustrations printed in red, internally fine; original white card wrappers, brown dustjacket printed in blue, minor wear to top edge, 2 small indentations to front panel; 3 folded sheets (2 typewritten; one printed) loosely inserted.

Murray 3.3.