Hardcover
2005 · London
by Young, Edward; Blake, William (Illustrations); Hamlyn, Robin (Companion Volume)
London: The Folio Society, 2005. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Fine. Blake, William. One of 1020 copies, two folio volumes plus companion volume in case, folio volumes elephant folio size with [548] pp., Commentary volume small quarto size with 382 pp., with prospectus and leaflet. William Blake (1757 - 1827) is arguably the most original, and one of the most highly-regarded English author - unusual in that he excelled both as an author and an artist. Although thought mad by his contemporaries, he was held in high regard for his expressiveness and for the synthesis of philosophical and mystical senses within his work.
Edward Young (baptized 1683 - 1765) is best-known for this work (originally published in parts between 1742 and 1745), a poem in blank verse written by him as he dealt with the death of his wife and rejection by his son. The poem was highly influential in the Eighteenth Century and was an almost instant success. Sadly, when William Blake published his illustrated version in 1797, it contained only 43 of his designs; it was a commercial failure and the rest of Blake's designs were never published.
These designs, nearly 500 paintings, "which included some of Blake's most dramatic and vibrant work, remained unpublished, until this Folio Society facsimile was created" (n.b., from prospectus). This version was "the only time all 537 of Blake's watercolours have ever been published together in colour" (ibid).
This work includes a scholarly Commentary volume by Robin Hamlyn (d. 2016), a curator at Tate Britain who specialised in William Blake and mounted a comprehensive exhibition of Blake's work in 2000.
___DESCRIPTION: The work consists of two large volumes bound in half navy Nigerian goatskin leather with cloth sides, the front boards each with a different decoration stamped onto the cloth by David Eccles and a mounted goatskin label with silver lettering, the spines with silver lettering, silver endpapers of handmade laid paper from the Fabriano mill, each illustration reproduced by digital photography from the original Blake designs in the British Museum, comprising a letter-press page framed by a pen-and-watercolour drawing; the illustration pages printed on Modigliani Neve paper, binding elephant folio size (16 3/4" by 13 1/2"), [548] pp. in two volumes; limited edition of 1000 sets (plus 20 lettered sets HDC), this no. 820. The companion volume bound in full blue cloth, silver paper label on the front board and silver lettering on the spine, silver endpapers; binding small quarto size (9 7/8" by 6 3/8"), pagination: [i-vi] vii-xx [1-2] 3-362. All volumes enclosed in a buckram-covered solander case with a tray for the Commentary volume, the inside lined with silver paper, the spine with a blue leather label with silver lettering; loosely laid in is the prospectus and a leaflet, two separate sheets each folded once for mailing, the prospectus with edition specifications and advertising blurbs, the leaflet with two sample illustrations.
___CONDITION: The set is fine overall, the binding without wear, straight corners without rubbing, strong, square text blocks with solid hinges, the interiors clean and bright, and the set entirely free of prior owner markings; the bindings on the folio volumes mostly clean with a few very light, stray marks on the back boards; the solander case fine overall, strong and sturdy, with one very small spot of wear on the front; the leaflet and prospectus near fine with a few small areas of wear.
___POSTAGE: Please note that this is an extremely large and heavy set, and additional postage will apply; please inquire for details. International customers, please note that any taxes, duty, or tariffs charged by your country will, of necessity, be your responsibility.
___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help. (Inventory #: 24011802)
Edward Young (baptized 1683 - 1765) is best-known for this work (originally published in parts between 1742 and 1745), a poem in blank verse written by him as he dealt with the death of his wife and rejection by his son. The poem was highly influential in the Eighteenth Century and was an almost instant success. Sadly, when William Blake published his illustrated version in 1797, it contained only 43 of his designs; it was a commercial failure and the rest of Blake's designs were never published.
These designs, nearly 500 paintings, "which included some of Blake's most dramatic and vibrant work, remained unpublished, until this Folio Society facsimile was created" (n.b., from prospectus). This version was "the only time all 537 of Blake's watercolours have ever been published together in colour" (ibid).
This work includes a scholarly Commentary volume by Robin Hamlyn (d. 2016), a curator at Tate Britain who specialised in William Blake and mounted a comprehensive exhibition of Blake's work in 2000.
___DESCRIPTION: The work consists of two large volumes bound in half navy Nigerian goatskin leather with cloth sides, the front boards each with a different decoration stamped onto the cloth by David Eccles and a mounted goatskin label with silver lettering, the spines with silver lettering, silver endpapers of handmade laid paper from the Fabriano mill, each illustration reproduced by digital photography from the original Blake designs in the British Museum, comprising a letter-press page framed by a pen-and-watercolour drawing; the illustration pages printed on Modigliani Neve paper, binding elephant folio size (16 3/4" by 13 1/2"), [548] pp. in two volumes; limited edition of 1000 sets (plus 20 lettered sets HDC), this no. 820. The companion volume bound in full blue cloth, silver paper label on the front board and silver lettering on the spine, silver endpapers; binding small quarto size (9 7/8" by 6 3/8"), pagination: [i-vi] vii-xx [1-2] 3-362. All volumes enclosed in a buckram-covered solander case with a tray for the Commentary volume, the inside lined with silver paper, the spine with a blue leather label with silver lettering; loosely laid in is the prospectus and a leaflet, two separate sheets each folded once for mailing, the prospectus with edition specifications and advertising blurbs, the leaflet with two sample illustrations.
___CONDITION: The set is fine overall, the binding without wear, straight corners without rubbing, strong, square text blocks with solid hinges, the interiors clean and bright, and the set entirely free of prior owner markings; the bindings on the folio volumes mostly clean with a few very light, stray marks on the back boards; the solander case fine overall, strong and sturdy, with one very small spot of wear on the front; the leaflet and prospectus near fine with a few small areas of wear.
___POSTAGE: Please note that this is an extremely large and heavy set, and additional postage will apply; please inquire for details. International customers, please note that any taxes, duty, or tariffs charged by your country will, of necessity, be your responsibility.
___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help. (Inventory #: 24011802)
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