“The Poetical Works of Robert Burns. Engravings on Wood by Bewick, from designs by Thurston. Alnwick: Printed by Catnach and Davison, 1808.” And London: Printed for T. Cadell and Davis, Strand, 1814. With cuts previously used in Davison’s publications.
“Many of the engravings produced for Burns’ Poems, are of a very superior class, and cannot be too highly commended.”—Hugo.
“Sandie and Willie.”
“The Poetical Works of Robert Ferguson, with his Life. Engravings on Wood by Bewick. Alnwick: Printed by W. Davison.”
Mr. Davison, following up the actions of his former partner, had a great regard for the standard poets. Previous to the issuing of the poems of Ferguson they had tried to imbue a better taste into the minds of the general reader, by means of publishing nothing but what was of an elevating character. And this will be seen by examining such works as Buffon, Beattie, Percy, Burns, &c. Almost simultaneously with the poems of Burns appeared those of Ferguson. Both works are uniform in size and price—viz: 2 vols., Foolscap 8vo.—12s. in boards; they contain some of Bewick’s choicest and most exquisite wood-engravings.
“The Northumberland Minstrel: A Choice Selection of Songs. Alnwick: Printed by W. Davison.”
There were only three numbers of this work published,[4] each of which contained 48 pages. The object of this undertaking was for the carrying out a project which at that time was becoming very popular, and consisted in bringing together in a collected form some of the best and most admired of our ballad-poetry. In fact, the object Mr. Davison had in view was only to extend what had been so successfully accomplished by Herd, Ramsay, Motherwell, Ritson, and others.