Most songs appear to have been carefully copied from printed sources, the general appearance of the words and music resembling printed or engraved pieces, and the publishers' names being equally carefully transcribed.

The owner is unidentified, but may have been a resident of Edinburgh (folios 4, 8, 29). The only date in the book appears to be 1834 at folio 82, but folio i is watermarked 1828, and several of the pieces appear to have been composed about these years.

A contents list has been added at the front and back of the volume (folios i, ii). It is described as 'Index to volume one' (folio i), but no other volumes are known. Single leaves appear to have been cut or torn out after folios 81 and 89.