James M'Kie

Life and character

M'Kie was born at Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, on 7 October 1816, reportedly the illegitimate son of James M'Kie, a carpet weaver and Elizabeth Boyd, later married as Elizabeth Brown. At the age of 11 in 1828 he became an apprentice bookbinder at the Kilmarnock Cross premises of John Wilson's successor, Hugh Crawford. Crawford had been an apprentice to John Wilson. The apprenticeship lasted seven years, with a 6am to 8pm day, acquiring knowledge of bookbinding, counter-work and printing.

The local historian Archibald Mackay noted that the Kilmarnock Cross premises of John Wilson had belonged to Burns's supporter, John Goldie, who together with other local worthies had helped him publish his poems in the 'Kilmarnock Edition'.

In 1835 he moved to Elgin for six months, having finished his apprenticeship. In 1839 he obtained a job at a booksellers in Saltcoats and published a weekly periodical, the 'Ayrshire Inspirer,' containing work by local poets, writers, etc. His Kilmarnock friends persuaded him to publish an annual work, entitled the 'Ayrshire Wreath' based on the same idea of contributions as the 'Ayrshire Inspirer', and this was published on and off until 1855, partly due to the death of Hugh Crawford.

M'Kie was a member of the Kilmarnock Literary Society and the Ayr and Wigton Archaeological Association. He had an interest in Burns from an early age but circa 1843 he began to actively collect different editions of Robert Burns' works, etc. The collection developed an international reputation and attracted many visitors and his obituary records that his visitors were 'always assured of a hearty and hospitable welcome.' Small numbers of volumes were issued on large paper. 1869: Songs, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. By Robert Burns. MDCCCLXIX. McKie claimed that he had achieved a complete collection of the poet's songs. 1871: Kilmarnock Popular Edition. The complete poetical Works of Robert Burns. Arranged in the Order of their earliest publication. Edited by William Scott Douglas. 1874: 'Burns and His Kilmarnock Friends, with other pieces in Prose and Verse. Printed for Archibald McKay. 1875: 'A Manual of Religious Belief with Biographical Preface'. The first published edition of William Burnes 'Manual' in a limited edition of 600 copies. The 'Preface' seems to have been written by James McKie. Printed and published by McKie and Drennan. 1876, 1886, 1887, 1890, 1891, 1893, 1896, 1903, 1923, etc. : The Complete poetical works of Robert Burns. A number of title variations such as 'Centenary Edition'. 1877: 'The People's Edition. Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, by Robert Burns'. 1881: 'The Bibliography of Robert Burns with Biographical and Bibliographical Notes and Sketches of Burns Clubs, Monuments and Statues'. 1886: Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, by Robert Burns. Centenary facsimile. 120 copies.

Publications included his own works: M'Kie, James (1886). Bibliotheca Burnsiana. Life and Works of Burns ... in the Private Library of James McKie. Kilmarnock : James M'Kie. M'Kie, James (1874). The Burns Calendar: A Manual of Burnsiana .. A Concise Bibliography and A Record of Burns Relics. Kilmarnock : James M'Kie. The 600 copies of the 'Burns Calendars' were sold out before publication.

The Kilmarnock Edition facsimiles Centenary Facsimile with Jamies McKie's signature in a limited edition of 120 copies. Only 612 copies of the Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect were printed by John Wilson in 1786 and M'Kie saw that most collectors of Robert Burns's works would be unable to acquire a copy and to satisfy this demand and satisfy his own interests as an admirer of Burns he produced the first facsimile edition for collectors in 1867 in a print run of 600 copies. These facsimiles were in original style boards, signed by James McKie. A large paper issue of 28 cm was also printed in a limited edition of 50, also signed by James McKie. The first American Edition was published in 1868.

The McKie Collection

M'Kie's collection of Burns books, paintings, manuscripts and general Burnsiana grew to become the world's largest collections of its kind of the bard's works at the time, but only parts of it are viewable and these are an online source.

David Sneddon prepared a catalogue of M'Kie's collection which runs to 160 pages with over 1300 items, including 400 editions of the poet's works.

In addition to these items M'Kie had a small collection of Robert Burns and Burns family artifacts: A rush-bottomed Chair and a Dram Glass that had belonged to Burns; an odd volume of the Spectator that had belonged to his father William Burnes and carried his autograph; a holograph copy of The Whistle : A Ballad on foolscap paper with the official Excise stamp.

By the late 19th century the Burns collection of the Burnsian and Kilmaurs schoolmaster Duncan McNaught had surpassed that of James M'kie, however it was lost to Scotland in 1920 when the American businessman and antiquarian collector John Gribbel purchased his collection and took it back with him to America where it was sadly dispersed after his death in 1936.