The Kasidah

Fewer than 200 copies of the entire first edition, comprising both an undated first issue and a dated second issue were printed. This edition is based one of the rare first issues printed for private use only and presumed to have been given by Burton to friends. The Kasidah (couplets) in this volume of poetry were written by Burton under his nom-de-plume, Haji Abdu El-Yezdi. Burton wrote the Kasidah in 1853, 27 years before he first ventured to print it.