By comparison only 612 copies of the Kilmarnock Edition of which 88 are known to survive however no record exists of the number of the first Edinburgh Edition that are extant. and perhaps some have been mislaid resulting in a need to sell some copies at the subscribers price. The printing of 1500 copies had been initially planned however demand was such that circa 3000 copies were printed, with estimates ranging from 2,894 to 3,250, and 1500 subscribers for 2876 copies are listed, however Burns lost some of the Subscription Bills.

It cost 5 shillings for subscribers and 6 shillings for non-subscribers. It was the second published edition of Burns's work, his first edition having been printed nine months before in Kilmarnock. The Kilmarnock Edition made Robert Burns Caledonia's Bard whilst the 'Edinburgh Edition' elevated him into a position amongst the world's greatest poets. It is a collection of poetry and songs by Robert Burns, first Printed for the Author by William Smellie in Edinburgh and published or Sold by William Creech of Edinburgh on the 17 April, an announcement being made in the Edinburgh Advertiser on that date, although the date 21 April 1786 is given by a few authors. Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (Edinburgh Edition) is commonly known as the first Edinburgh Edition and the partial second setting has become known as the Stinking Edition.

Poems and songs by robert burns