Lot 85
  • 85

Blake, William

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description

  • William Blake
  • Illustrations of the Book of Job. Invented and engraved by William Blake. Published as the act directs...by William Blake, 8 March 1825 [1826]
  • paper
folio (415 x 274mm.), ONE OF 215 "PROOF" FIRST ISSUE COPIES, ONE OF 65 COPIES ON "FRENCH" PAPER (paper unwatermarked), engraved pictorial title and 21 plates designed and engraved by Blake, each plate marked "Proof", second plate (Job and his family praising God) misdated "1828", each sheet interleaved, full red morocco with arms of Harrow School on upper board, spine lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, some rubbing to binding, minor loss to fore-edge of sheet of plate 11 (not affecting image), some light spotting

Provenance

Presented to Harrow School Library by Rev. Hilton Bothamley (1837-1919), presentation bookplate dated 1865; Craddock and Barnard booksellers, London, catalogue clipping loosely inserted; Dr Denis Williams, purchased c.1960; thence by descent

Literature

Bentley 421A; see Keynes 55

Essick's essay appears in William Blake's Illustrations to the Book of Job, edited David Bindman (1987)

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

A RARE EXAMPLE ON "FRENCH" PAPER. There has been some confusion over the states of the earliest issues of the Job plates. Most bibliographical sources, including Bentley in his Blake Books, list 150 "proof" sets on India paper watermarked "J Whatman Turkey Mill 1825" and 65 "proof" sets on French paper watermarked "J Whatman 1825". These were followed by 100 sets printed on drawing paper with the word "proof" removed. 

However, in his essay 'Blake's Engravings to the Book of Job. An Essay on their Graphic Ford with a Catalogue of their States and Printings', Essick states that he has "not been able to identify any set as definitely printed on a French paper but this description probably refers to impressions with the 'Proof' inscription (State A) printed directly on an ivory-coloured wove paper without watermark". As in this copy, "some leaves have a rather mottled appearance when viewed through a backing light". Although Bentley states that the the French paper shows a Whatman watermark, Essick feels that it is unlikely that such a clearly English paper used for the Drawing paper impressions of state B, would be referred to as "French" in John Linnell's account books. As such, it seems most probable that this copy is one of the 65 sets on French paper. These sets are considerably scarcer at auction than those printed on India paper.

Blake had completed the designs for what would become his Illustrations for the Book of Job around 1805-1806 for Thomas Butts, a clerk to the commissary general of musters who had by then become Blake's major patron. The publication was not conceived of until ten years later, when Linnell, hoping to provide his ageing friend with a much needed income, offered to finance the engraving and printing. The plates were borrowed back from Butts in 1821, and Blake began the arduous task of the engraving. Although the title page is dated 1825, publication was delayed until 1826, and the date amended on a label pasted to the boards in which the plates were issued.