William Blake's Illustrations of the Book of Job. The Engravings and Related Material with Essays, Catalogue of States and Printings, Commentary on the Plates and Documentary Record by David Bindman, Barbara Bryant, Robert Essick, Geoffrey Keynes and Bo Lindberg. Edited by David Bindman.
London: The William Blake Trust, 1987. Limited edition, one of five special sets from a total edition of 387 copies. Four parts, each containing subdivisions of text volumes and/or portfolios of illustrations. Dark blue half morocco, the text volumes and solander boxes over marbled boards with gilt labels, the portfolios and slipcases over grey cloth. Part Ia - text volume, titled as above, (147, (1) pp.); Part Ib - "The Plates with an Introduction and Plate-by-Plate Commentary by Bo Lindberg", the introduction and 22 plates (Blake's title design plus 21) in different states presented in individual fascicles; Part IIa - text volume titled "Colour Versions of William Blake's Book of Job Designs from the Circle of John Linnell. Facsimiles of the New Zealand and Collins Sets and the Fitzwilliam Plates. With an Essay by Bo Lindberg. Edited by David Bindman" (27, (1) pp.); Parts IIb-d - Three portfolios containing 22, 22 and 4 plates from the respective sets plus a further two images loosely inserted in the case; Parts IIIa-e - The first collection of "Additional Materials" comprising five portfolios holding numerous plates titled thus: "Label printed for original publication, March 1826", "Guides and Stencils for Coloured Version of Page from 'Riches' Sketchbook (not used)...", "Colour Versions... Collins & New Zealand Sets & Fitzwilliam Plates", "...Illustrations of the Book of Job Alternative Printing Without Plate Mark" and "...Hand coloured Maquettes and First Proofs from Pochoirs with Comments"; Parts IVa-d - The second collection of "Additional Materials" comprising four portfolios with numerous plates thus: "Proofs, Guides and Stencils for Colour Plates from Colour Versions... Trianon Press, Paris, c.1974", "...First Proofs from the Collotype Plates with Notes by Arnold Fawcus", "Pages from the 'Riches' Sketchbook with Colour Washes (not published)", "Facsimiles of Subjects from the Butts Version Watercolours Printed Collotype by Emery Walker for the Pierpoint Morgan Library Edition, 1935". Slight rubbing to the head of the spine of one of the solander boxes, occasional slight dustiness to the slipcases, excellent condition overall. John Commander's set with his name inscribed on the limitation leaf, being one of five "containing extra material... specially made up for those most closely concerned with bringing the publication to completion". Commander spent his life in publishing and for many years headed the Scolar Press. An expert on Blake, he was heavily involved in the refounding of the William Blake Trust and was appointed as secretary and executive director of the organisation. A scarce work to begin with, this is a highly desirable set of this expanded and very limited issue given to an esteemed authority on Blake who had did much to promote the study and enjoyment of the artist's work over many decades. Item #42250
Price: £13,500.00