Books

1838. [London: for John Linnell, 1838]. 7 plates, oblong folio, printed on laid paper only (not on India), lightly cleaned, in fine condition. § First printing (subsequent to a few proofs possibly pulled by Blake himself) preceding the 1838 printing on laid india on wove paper. Essick states (Blake Quarterly, vol. 24, issue 3): “The next impressions to be pulled after Blake’s own working proofs are probably those printed directly on laid paper (not to be confused with India paper laid on wove) showing clear wire and chain lines, the latter approximately 3.7 cm. apart. Such a set was sold from the Doheny Memorial Library at Christie’s New York, 21 February 1989, lot 1713, plate 2 illustrated in the auction catalogue [this set]. Part of a watermark, or countermark, “A & D,” is present in plate 3. The heavy foxing of most impressions in this set [now cleaned] cannot mask the fact that these are superb impressions that justify a record price. All major engraved lines are…