[William Blake, illustrator]. LIMITED. Edward Young. Night Thoughts. London: Folio Society, 2005....
Description
Over 500 Illustrations by William Blake
[William Blake, illustrator]. LIMITED. Edward Young. Night Thoughts. London: Folio Society, 2005. First complete facsimile edition. # 731 of 1,000 numbered copies. Two large format folios (13.5 x 17 inches), 548 pages; and one smaller format octavo (6.5 x 10 inches), 362 pages. Illustrated with 537 facsimile reproductions of the original watercolors by William Blake, which were designed to surround each printed page. Two folios bound in quarter goatskin, titles in silver to spine and leather front cover labels, cloth sides printed and blocked with William Blake's designs redrawn by David Eccles. The books come with a smaller buckram bound commentary volume by Blake scholar Robin Hamlyn. The three books are housed in a large buckram solander box with title label on its spine. The book box is scuffed and dented, although the books inside appear virtually unused. A near fine copy in a box with wear.Please visit HA.com/6117 for an extended description of this lot.
More Information:
In 1795 William Blake was commissioned by the London publisher Richard Edwards to produce a series of watercolors for a new edition of Edward Young's masterpiece, The Complaint: or Night Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality, more commonly referred to as Night Thoughts. This often grim poetic work was issued in nine parts, one for each "Night", between 1742 and 1745.
Blake originally designed 537 illustrations for the full work, although only forty-three of them were used in the 1797 edition of the first four "Nights." The complete poem was never published by Edwards.
The 2005 Folio Society edition is the first complete color facsimile of the full work with all of Blake's 537 watercolor illustrations.
Auction Info
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% on the first $100,000 (minimum $14), plus 20% of any amount between $100,000 and $1,000,000, plus 12% of any amount over $1,000,000 per lot.
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms