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begin page 26 | ↑ back to topBLAKE IN THE MARKETPLACE, 1976-77
The trends I outlined in my last survey of Blake sales (Blake Newsletter, 10 [1976], 53-59) have continued. A new German interest in Blake—note the purchase of the study of Jerusalem pl. 51 by the Hamburg Kunsthalle—and the improving British economy have added new stimuli to an already active market. The book market, particularly for early facsimiles and volumes with Blake’s engravings, remains on its steep upward course. Two young dealers, Donald Heald of London and Edwin C. Epps, Jr., of Columbia, South Carolina, have begun businesses with a special emphasis on Blake. Both bring considerable expertise to the field. Three of Blake’s most important series of intaglio illustrations—Night Thoughts, The Grave, and Job—have increased considerably in price, although their continued availability has held off the sharp rise that will undoubtedly occur as soon as these works become truly rare. Once again, no complete illuminated book came on the market, but several individual pages or fragments did appear. The best drawings and prints have fared well, but the market continues shallow and weak for the less impressive drawings. When none of the half-dozen major dealers or collectors compete for a drawing, its sale price (or frequently buy-in by the seller) is about the same as it would have been five years ago.
The following lists have the same format as the 1974-75 survey, with only minor modifications. All Sotheby, Sotheby Parke-Bernet, and Christie’s auction catalogues have been surveyed, as have the catalogues of the major dealers who regularly handle original Blake materials. I have made no attempt to search out every sale of original works, and thus there are no doubt a good many sales of the more common printed items not included here. A few late 1975 and early 1978 sales are also listed.
I wish to thank Martin Butlin, Detlef W. Dörrbecker, Ruth Fine, and Shaunagh FitzGerald of P. & D. Colnaghi & Co. for their assistance in compiling this list.
ABBREVIATIONS
| CL | Christie, Manson & Woods Ltd., London |
| CNY | Christie, Manson & Woods, New York |
| cat. | catalogue or sales list issued by a dealer or auction house (usually followed by a number or letter designation) |
| illus. | the item or part thereof is reproduced in the catalogue |
| SB | Sotheby Belgravia, Motcomb St., London |
| SH | Sotheby & Co., Hodgson’s Rooms, Chancery Lane, London |
| SL | Sotheby & Co., Main Rooms, Bond St., London |
| SNY | Sotheby Parke-Bernet, New York |
| # | auction lot or catalogue item number |
[View this object in the William Blake Archive]
I. DRAWINGS, WATERCOLORS, & PRINTED DRAWINGS
“Adam and Eve.” Pencil and grey ink, 8 ⅝ × 9 ⅞ in. CL, 9 Nov. 1976, #78, illus. (£700). Sold (or bought-in?) for 450 gns. in the same rooms, 9 Nov. 1971, #77. Now collection of Colin Hunter.
“Canute.” Pencil, 9 ½ × 7 ¼ in. Counterproof of the original in the Rosenwald Collection. CL, 9 Nov. 1976, #79 (£150). Now collection of Jonathan Wordsworth.
“Every Man also Gave Him a Piece of Money.” Pencil and wash drawing, formerly Robertson collection, 22.8 × 17.7 cm. Colnaghi, Sept. 1976 drawings cat., #83, illus. (£15,000). Stolen on the last day of the Colnaghi exhibition, but recovered in Feb. 1978, and now in the possession of Colnaghi’s insurance company. This drawing, a variant of Job pl. 19, was previously sold SL, 21 March 1974, #16 to Colnaghi for £9500.
“The Gambols of the Ghosts.” Pencil, 46 × 31.5 cm. Somerville & Simpson, private offer, Oct. 1977 (£5,500). Now at the Yale Center for British Art. SEE ILLUS. 1.
“The Good Farmer.” Pencil, black ink, and grey wash (recto & verso). Early 1780s, 12 ¾ × 18 ¼ in. SL, 18 Nov. 1976, #163, illus. (Bought-in, £1600.) In March 1977, the drawing was seriously damaged in transit between Sotheby’s Parke-Bernet, New York and their Los Angeles office. Now restored and in the author’s collection. SEE ILLUS. 2 & 3 (photos made prior to damage).
“Jerusalem: A Study for Plate 51.” Black chalk, 16.1 × 34 cm. Colnaghi, Sept. 1976 drawings cat., #84, illus. Price not given; now collection of the Kunsthalle, Hamburg. Repro. Blake Newsletter, 7 (Summer, 1973), 7.
“Pestilence.” Water color, 7 ⅛ × 10 ¾ in., the second of four known versions, early 1780s. CL, 2 March 1976, #97, illus. (Bought-in at £2400.) Now in the author’s collection.
begin page 28 | ↑ back to top“Pity.” Color printed drawing, 16 ¼ × 20 ¼ in. Colin & Charlotte Franklin, A Catalogue of Early Colour Printing, 1977, pp. 71-73, illus. color ($30,000). Purchased by the Mellon family and destined for the Yale Center for British Art. Repro. Blake Newsletter, 10 (Fall, 1976), 54.
“Saint Augustine Converting King Ethelbert of Kent.” Watercolor from the history of England series of C. 1779-80, 5 × 7 in. CL, 9 Nov. 1976, #77, illus. (£1300). Now in the stock of P. & D. Colnaghi & Co., London. Sold (or bought-in?) for 1000 gns. in the same rooms, 9 Nov. 1971, #75. SEE ILLUS. 4.
“Saul Confronted by the Vision of Abraham Summoned by the Witch of Endor” (recto); “Saul in Anguish as Abraham Appears” (verso). Pencil, 6 ¼ × 9 ½ in. SL, 7 July 1977, #41, recto illus. (£920). Now in the stock of P. & D. Colnaghi & Co., London. Recto repro. Blake Newsletter, 7 (Summer, 1973), 8.
Study of a Classic Head of a Young Man. Pencil, 7 ½ × 6 in. On paper watermarked M & J LAY 1816. CL, 22 Nov. 1977, #156 (£650). Sold in the same rooms, Robertson collection, 22 July 1949, #68. Repro. Keynes, Pencil Drawings (1927), pl. 82 (“Head of a Fawn”).
Study of the Head of Lais of Corinth. Pencil, 7 ⅜ × 6 in. On paper watermarked M & J LAY 1816. Formerly T. E. Hanley collection. CL, 22 Nov. 1977, #155 (£550).
Study of Theotormon. Pencil, 8 × 6 ½ in. CL, 1 March 1977, #142 (£320). Now collection of Jonathan Wordsworth. Sold SL, 27 Nov. 1975, #7 (£520). Repro. Blake Newsletter, 7 (Summer, 1973), 7.
“The Virgin Hushing the Young Baptist as He Approaches Jesus.” Tempera, 10 ⅓ × 15 in. John Howell Books, April 1976 private offer at $85,000. Now in a private Chicago collection. SEE ILLUS. 5.
“Warring Angels; Michael Contending with Satan.” Ink and wash, 9 ⅜ × 13 in. Agnew & Sons, Jan. 1977 cat., #1, illus. (£1800). Now collection of Bolton Art Gallery, Lancashire. Repro. Blake: An Illustrated Quarterly, 11 (1977), 120-21.
II. PRINTS
This section includes pages from the illuminated books and commercial book illustrations removed from the volumes in which they originally appeared. Plate numbers and copy designations follow G. E. Bentley, Jr., Blake Books.
Ariosto, L. Orlando Furioso. Blake’s pl. only, first state, printed on a large sheet. Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #1 (£40). Third state. Epps, Feb. 1978 cat. 5, #11 ($45).
begin page 29 | ↑ back to topBlair, R. The Grave. Pls. 1, 3, 6-9, published “proofs” from the first folio ed., 1808. Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #16 (£240). Pl. 11 (“Death’s Door”), published “proof,” some foxing. Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #17 (£45). Pls. only, spotted, in portfolio as issued, [1870]. SH, 29 June 1977, #123 (Mrs. L. King, £42). Eight pls., in portfolio as issued, [1870]. CL, 25 May 1977, #308 (£80). Pls. only as issued in portfolio, 1926. Black Sun Books, Oct. 1977 cat. 44, #16 ($275). Three pls., soiled, titles not specified. SB, 14 Dec. 1976, #306 (not sold). Pl. 6, proof before letters except Schiavonetti’s signature. Graham Saville, 20 Aug. 1977, private sale (W. Ger. DM 80). Now collection of Detlef W. Dörrbecker. Pl. 7, proof lacking some finish work on the rocks. Graham Saville, Aug. 1977, private sale (DM 105). Now collection of Detlef W. Dörrbecker. SEE ILLUS. 6.
Burger, G. A. Leonora, 1796. Frontis., Perry after Blake. SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #12 (£28).
“Chaucers Canterbury Pilgrims.” Final state, Colnaghi printing, light staining. SNY, 23 June 1976, #318 ($175). Final state, Colnaghi printing on laid India, some staining, small tear. SB, 19 July 1977, #136, illus. (£150).
“Christ with a Bow, Trampling Upon Urizen,” Butts and Blake after Blake. CL, 27 July 1976, #236 (£100). On Whatman paper. CL, 26 Oct. 1976, #237, illus. (£110). On greenish laid paper. SNY, 10
[View this object in the William Blake Archive]
“The Clod and the Pebble” from Songs of Innocence and of Experience copy T, hand colored and numbered 32. Sold with the eighth Virgil illustration designed and cut by Blake (foxed), CL, 26 Oct. 1976, #236 (£1000). Now in the author’s collection.
Dante illustrations. Complete pls. on laid India, issue of 1892, slight foxing. SB, 25 May 1976, #21, pl. 4 illus. (withdrawn). With some water staining in outer margins. SB, 21 Sept. 1976, #12, pl. 7 illus. (£3200). Colnaghi, March 1977 prints cat., #8, illus. ($12,000). 1968 printing on Koji paper. SNY, 22 June 1977, #43A ($400).
“The Ecchoing Green,” second plate, “The Little Black Boy,” second plate, and “Holy Thursday” from Experience. From the collection of Dr. B. E. Juel-Jensen (see Blake Books, p. 430). Now (Feb. 1978) in the possession of the book dealer Colin Franklin, Oxfordshire.
“Evening Amusement,” after Watteau. Printed in sanguine, slightly foxed. CL, 27 July 1976, #40 (£240).
Gay, J. Fables, 1793. Epps, Feb. 1978 cat. 5, #5 (Pls. 2, 3, 10—$20 each; 4-9—$25 each; 5-8—$30 each; 11—$27.50; 12—$15).
Hayley, W. Ballads, 1805. Pl. 5, “The Horse.” Weston Gallery, Feb. 1978 cat. 1, #3, illus. ($176).
Hayley. Life of Cowper, 1802. Pls. 1, 2, 5 (2 copies), 6 (2 copies), some tears. SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #10 (bought-in).
Hayley. Life of Romney, 1809. Blake’s pl. only, with Erasmus Darwin, The Botanic Garden, pl. 5, foxed. SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #8 (£10).
Hayley. Triumphs of Temper, 1803. Pls. only, waterstains lower corners, tear in pl. 2. SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #6 (£30).
“The Hiding of Moses” from Remember Me!, 1825. SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #3, illus. (£130).
Jerusalem. Three hand colored clippings from: pl. 37, top design with top design of pl. 4 on verso; pl. 18, upper design with pl. 19, lines 4-16, on verso; pl. 35, lower design with pl. 28, lines 7-23, on verso. Offered for sale privately by a New York collector, and now in two private Ńew York State collections.
Jerusalem, pl. 47, design only, hand colored, Europe title-page on verso. The “Preston” proof. Colnaghi, March 1977 prints cat., #1, both sides illus., color ($30,000). Now in the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
Job. Proof issue, original wrappers with label. SH, 12 Nov. 1976, #385, pl. 18 illus. (Lott, £3300). Proof issue on laid India, from the Pierpont Morgan Library (the copy that contained Blake’s watercolors when it was sold at the 1903 Lord Crewe auction). SNY, 24 May 1977, #154, pl. 7 illus. ($5500). Proof issue on laid India, margins cut down, bound with the Book of Job from a 19th century Bible, some spotting. SH, 26 Oct. 1977, #62, pl. 18 illus. (Mulder, £2300). Proof issue on laid India, old boards with printed label bound in. SNY, 6 Dec. 1977, #40, pl. 7 illus. ($6500). Proof issue on wove paper, trimmed on two sides and bound in an 1835 Bible. SB, 21 Sept. 1976, #11, pl. 5 illus. (£900). Proof issue on wove paper, some spotting. SNY, 26 Jan. 1977, #182, pl. 7 illus. ($4000). Regular issue on Whatman paper. David Tunick, Jan. 1977 cat. 9, #19, pls. 3, 4 illus. ($8,250). Late issue on laid India, slight foxing. CL, 15 Feb. 1977, #348, pl. 15 illus. (£1700). CNY, 26 May 1977, #20 ($4620). SH, 29 June 1977, #21 (Davidson, £950). Proof issue on laid India, pls. 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 16. Colnaghi, March 1977 prints cat., #2-7, all but last illus. ($650 each). Proof issue on laid India, pls. 2, 5, 9, some foxing. SNY, 10 Nov. 1976, #3 ($900). Regular issue, pls. 8, 13, 12, the first two on Whatman paper, the third on heavy wove paper. SNY, 10 Nov. 1976, #4 ($800). Proof issue on laid India, pl. 4. SNY, 7 May 1976, #460 ($750). Regular issue on 1828 Whatman paper, pl. 4. CL, 18 May 1976, #345 (£150). Proof issue on laid India, pl. 4, margins foxed. SNY, 10 Nov. 1976, #1 ($500). Regular issue, pl. 5. Lott & Gerrish, Dec. 1976 cat., #52, illus (£290). Proof issue on laid India, pl. 6, some foxing. SNY, 10 Nov. 1976, #2 ($450). Regular issue, pl. 8. Lott & Gerrish, Dec. 1976 cat., #53, illus. (£290). Regular issue, pl. 6. SB, 5 April 1977, #203 (£100). Proof issue on Whatman paper, pl. 7. Craddock & Barnard, Sept. 1976 cat. 133, #21 (“Sold,” no price given). Regular issue, pl. 9. Lott & Gerrish, Dec. 1976 cat., #54 illus. (£290). Regular issue, pl. 13, slight foxing. SNY, 12 Jan. 1978, #32 ($300).
“Joseph of Arimathea among the Rocks of Albion,” second state, probably a posthumous impression. SH, 12 Nov. 1976, #386 (Heald,£1000). Sotheby catalogued this item with a copy of The Grave and noted this inserted print only in passing. The estimate was £20.
Lavater, J. C. Essays on Physiognomy, 1789. Epps, Feb. 1978 cat. 5, #10 (Pls. 1—$15; 3—$35); #2 (Pl. 2—$50).
“Wilson Lowery,” Blake and Linnell after Linnell, final state. SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #5 (£12).
Malkin, B. H. A Father’s Memoirs of His Child, 1806. Brown, J. Elements of Medicine, 1795. Blake’s pls. from these two works, foxed. SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #9 (£5).
“The Man Sweeping the Interpreter’s Parlour,” woodcut on pewter. David Tunick, Jan. 1977 cat. 9, #18, illus. ($7,500).
“Night,” lower design only of the second pl. of the poem in Songs of Innocence. Hand tinted with watercolors, 31 × 65 mm. SB, 5 April 1977, #208 (£420).
The Novelist’s Magazine, vol. IX, 1782. Blake’s two pls. for Sentimental Journey and Launcelot Greaves, tears. SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #11 (bought-in). Same copies, SB, 25 May 1976, #23 (£8). Vol. X, begin page 31 | ↑ back to top Sir Charles Grandison, 1783. Blake’s three pls., Epps, Feb. 1978 cat. 5, #3 (Pls. 1, 2—$25 each; 3 [lacking border]—$15; $50 the lot).
“Mrs. Q,” Blake after Villiers. State not identified, foxed. CL, 18 May, 1976, #28 (£40). With “Windsor Castle,” Barrow after Maile. SB, 6 July 1976, #54 (not sold).
Rees, A. The Cyclopaedia, 1819-20. Blake’s 7 pls. Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #29 (£85).
Salzmann, C. G. Elements of Morality, 1791. Sixteen pls. from vol. III, inscribed numbers 33-43, 45-47, 49, 50. Epps, Feb. 1978 cat. 5, #6 ($80).
Scott, J. Poetical Works, 1782. Epps, Feb 1978 cat. 5, #4 (Pls. 1—$22.50; 2-4—$27.50 each; $90 the lot).
“The Shepherd,” design only from the pl. in Songs of Innocence. Color printed, touched with black ink and watercolors, 71 × 65 mm. SB, 5 April 1977, #210, illus. color (Somerville & Simpson, £2500).
“Spring,” the tailpiece design only from the second pl. of the poem in Songs of Innocence. Ragged borders, color printed and touched with black ink and watercolors, 28 × 75 mm. SB, 5 April 1977, #207 (£280). Cut evenly, color printed and touched with black ink and watercolors, 42 × 69 mm. SB, 5 April 1977, #209, illus. color (Somerville & Simpson, £2000).
Stedman, J. G. Narrative, 1796. Four of Blake’s pls., not specified, foxed. SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #7 (£35). Pls. 13, 14. Epps, Feb. 1978 cat. 5, #9 ($40 each). Pl. 8. Epps, Feb. 1978 cat. 1, #1 ($70).
There is No Natural Religion, 1788. Pls. a3, 4, 6, b3 from copy G1 and pls. a9, b12 from copy I, formerly Pierpont Morgan Library.[e] SNY, 24 May 1977, #153, pl. a4 illus. (Argosy, $5000). Pls. a4, 6, b3 now in a private American collection; pls. a3, 9, b12 now collection of the author. SEE ILLUS. 7
“Venus Dissuades Adonis from Hunting,” Blake after Cosway. Color printed with hand tinting, title and imprint cropped. SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #2 (£135).
Virgil. Pastorals of, Thornton’s ed., 1821. Blake’s pls. only from vol. I (the complete wood engravings, 4 copperplate engravings, 1 woodcut after Blake’s drawing of a painting by Poussin). Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #30, first cut illus. (£850). The 17 wood engravings by Blake and 3 after his designs, with the text of Philips’ imitation of Eclogue I, mounted on paper watermarked 1906. SH, 26 Oct. 1977, #164 (Ayres, £300). Blake’s wood engravings, late impressions of the second through ninth, twelfth, and thirteenth cuts. SB, 5 April 1977, #205, second cut illus. (£360). Blake’s wood engravings, late impressions of the second, third, and fourth cuts. Weston Gallery, Summer 1977 cat. 5, #5-7, illus. ($175 each). Blake’s wood engravings, late impressions on India paper of the third, ninth, and twelfth cuts. SB, 19 July 1977, #134 (£85). Blake’s wood engraving, the fifth cut, small margins, framed. CL, 27 July 1976, #231 (£45). The three wood engravings after Blake’s designs from the 1821 volume. Epps, Feb. 1978 cat. 5, #8 ($40).
The Wit’s Magazine, 1784. Four of Blake’s five engravings, not specified, foxed, and “Fertilization of Egypt” from Darwin, Botanic Garden. SNY, 10 Nov. 1976, #5 ($50). Pl. 1 from the Jan. issue, cut close. Epps, Feb. 1978 cat. 5, #7 ($45).
Wollstonecraft, M. Original Stories from Real Life, 1796. Final states of the pls. mounted in a small album; from the collection of Sir Geoffrey Keynes. SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #4 (£110).
Young, E. Night Thoughts, 1797. Five pls. (pp. 11-12, 15-16, 27-28, 33-34, 41-42). SB, 25 May 1976, #20 (£70).
“Zephyrus and Flora,” Blake after Stothard. Printed in black, imprint faint (no. 3 in Keynes, Separate Plates cat.). SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #1 (£75).
III. BOOKS WITH BLAKE’S COMMERCIAL ENGRAVINGS
Allen, C. New and Improved Roman History, 1798. Uncut in original boards. Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #15 (£150). This copy, now in my collection, contains the pls. printed on a single sheet, folded and bound at the front. A continuous platemark runs across the top and bottom of the sheet, indicating that the pls. were engraved on and printed from a single copperplate. This was a common practice in the 18th and 19th centuries for small book illustrations, but this is the only example I know that definitely indicates that Blake executed his plates this way.
Ariosto, L. Orlando Furioso. 5 vols., 1783. Ravenstree, 1977 cat. 36, #145 ($185). 5 vols., 1785. Lamesa Booksellers, Feb. 1976 cat. 32, #8 ($195). 2 vols. in one, 1791. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #139 ($60). 2 vols., 1791. George’s, Dec. 1976 cat. 628, #282 (£7.50). 5 vols., 1799. Heritage Book Shop, March 1977 cat. 1, #3, ($250). Howes Bookshop, Oct. 1977 cat. 198, #125 (£45).
Blair, The Grave. Quarto, 1808, binding damaged. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #1 ($300). Quarto, 1808. Traylen, June 1976 cat. 84, #292 (£140). Quarto, 1808, contemporary boards with label, binding broken, pls. foxed. CL, 13 Oct. 1976, #158 (£180). Quarto, 1808, original boards lacking backstrip. SH, 12 Nov. 1976, #384 (Garton, £250). Quarto, 1808, original boards with cover label, rebacked, uncut, some foxing. Dawson Rare Books, April 1977 cat. 265, #52 (£400). Quarto, 1808, title shaved, some spotting, binding rubbed. SL, 3 Oct. 1977, #101 (£160). Quarto, 1808. Alan Thomas, Nov. 1977 cat. 36, #128 (£115). Antiquariat Jürgen Holstein (Königstein, W. Ger.), 1977 cat. 62, #824 (DM 2500). Quarto, 1808, uncut. Deighton Bell, April 1977 cat. 206, #680 (£235). Quarto, 1813, uncut. Deighton Bell, April 1977 cat. 206, #681 begin page 32 | ↑ back to top (£195). Quarto, 1813. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #132 ($225). Quarto, 1813, dampstained. Argosy Book Stores, May 1976 cat. 651, #95 ($75). Quarto, 1813, contemporary boards, frayed, leaves loose. SH, 29 June 1977, #120 (Dailey, £100). Folio, [1870], publisher’s binding. Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #18 (£75).
Boydell, J. & J. Graphic Illustrations of . . . Shakespeare, n. d. SL, 15 Feb. 1977, #306 (C. E. King, £170). 76 pls. only out of 100. Deighton Bell, April 1977 cat. 206, #713 (£90).
Bryant, J. A New System, 3 vols., first ed., 1774-76. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #2 ($250).
Darwin, E. Botanic Garden. First ed. of Part I, 1791. George’s, June 1976 cat. 626, #1111 (£75). Walford, Sept. 1976 cat. A/247, #265 (£145); Dec. 1976 cat. A/250, #22 (same copy, £ 145). CL, 26 Oct. 1977, #187 (£90). Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #133 ($175). Second ed. of Part I, 1791. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #3 ($200). Third ed. of Part I, 1795. CL, 28 April 1976, #321 (£100). Sterling Books, July 1976 cat. 32, #312, pl. 6 illus. (£125). Third ed. of Part I, 1795. Walford, June 1977 cat. A/255, #39 (£110). Fourth ed., 2 vols., 1799. Bow Windows Book Shop, April 1976 cat. 72, #33 (£100). Fourth ed., 1799, Part I only. Lamesa Booksellers, Sept. 1977 cat. 37, #51 ($40).
Darwin, E. Collected Works, 3 vols., 1806, with only 17 pls., not specified. George’s, May 1976 cat. 625, #1280 (£60).
Flaxman, J. Compositions from . . . Hesiod. Date not given. SB, 14 Dec. 1896, #307 (£5). 1817, bound with the Dante illustrations, 1807. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #4 ($250). 1817, bound with the Aeschylus illustrations, 1831. Revenstree, 1977 cat. 36, #146 ($155). 1817, bound with the Iliad, Odyssey, and Aeschylus illustrations, some foxing. SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #17 (£30).
Flaxman, J. The Iliad of Homer, 1805. Epps, Feb. 1977 cat. 1, #3 ($110). With Ruskin, Seven Lamps of Architecture, 1889. SH, 12 Nov. 1976, #446 (Quaritch, £45). In 3 vols. with Odyssey, 1805, Hesiod, 1817, Aeschylus, 1817, and Dante illustrations. SL, 9 May 1977, #140 (Ayres, £65). Bound with the Hesiod, 1817, Odyssey, 1805, and Aeschylus, 1831, illustrations. SL, 19 Dec. 1977, #209 (Prof. J. D. Swales, £95). Bound with Odyssey illustrations, 1805. Ravenstree, 1977 cat. 36, #147 ($185).
Fuseli, H. Lectures on Painting, 1801. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #5 ($175). Blackwell’s, June 1976 cat. A1061, #440 (£60). Bound with second series, 1820. SL, 5 Oct. 1976, #459 (Baldur Books, £55). 1801 issue. Ravenstree, 1977 cat. 36, #148 ($194). 1801 issue, original boards, uncut and partly unopened. CL, 18 May 1977, #285 (Ayres, £45). Original boards, damaged. CL, 18 May 1977, #286 (Ayres, £35).
Gay, J. Fables, 1793. 2 vols., some pls. spotted. CL, 15 Dec. 1976, #147 (£75). 2 vols., some foxing. Walford, June 1977 cat. A/255, #46 (£67); Jan. 1976 cat. A/240, #206 (£77); April 1976 cat. A/243, #296 (£75). 2 vols., clean. SL, 17 May 1976, #51 (Crichton, £110). Walford, July 1976 cat. A/246, #26 (£73). SH, 12 Nov. 1976, #382 (Quaritch, £80). Sanders of Oxford, Dec. 1976 cat. 86, #114 (£150). SH, 26 Oct. 1977, #162 (Blackwell, £75). 2 vols., some spotting. SH, 23 Nov. 1977, #27 (Cole, £65). 2 vols., clean. Sanders of Oxford, Dec. 1977 cat. 89 (£150). First ed., 2 vols., original boards, uncut, extra-illustrated with the nine pls. from the 1738 ed. that Blake copied in vol. I. Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #20, illus. (£260). First ed., 2 vols. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #135 ($150). Second ed., 2 vols. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #136 ($75); #6 ($65).
Hartley, D. Observations on Man, 1791, issue not specified. With 5 other vols., SL, 25 Jan. 1977, #309 (Whitby, £80).
Hayley, W. Ballads, 1805. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #7 ($450). With first states of the pls. Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #23, pl. 2 illus. (£200). Zeitlin & Ver Brugge, private offer, Sept. 1977 ($450).
Hayley, W. Essay on Sculpture, 1800. Covers detached. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #8 ($60). Original boards, uncut. Quaritch, Jan. 1976 cat. 955, #314 (£60).
Hayley, W. Life of Cowper. 3 vols., first ed., 1803-04. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #9 ($125). Maggs, April 1976 cat. 193, #640 (£140). SL, 17 May 1976, #53 (Swales, £45). Maggs, Dec. 1977 cat. 195, #841 (£140). 3 vols., second ed., 1803-04. Eric & Joan Stevens, June 1977 cat. 77, #227 (£58). SL, 19 July 1977, #516 (Maggs, £100). Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #137 ($100). 3 vols., second ed., 1803-04, with the supplementary volume, 1806. Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #24 (£85). Quaritch, June 1977 cat. 971, #27 ($275).
Hayley, W. Life of Romney, 1809. Covers detached. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #10 ($125). Inscribed “from the Author to the Rev’d Edward Marsh.” Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #25 (£75). Binding sound, clean. Black Sun Books, Sept. 1976 cat. 10, #3 ($165). CL, 2 Feb. 1977, #37 (£60). George’s, July 1977 cat. 632, #433 (£70). Quaritch, Dec. 1977 cat. 979, #47 ($300). Ravenstree, 1977 cat. 36, #149 ($300).
Hayley, W. Triumphs of Temper, 12th ed., 1803. Sanders of Oxford, Dec. 1976 cat. 86, #115 (£85). Ravenstree, 1977 cat. 36, #150 ($375). Argosy Book Stores, May 1977 cat. 663, #603 ($125). Quaritch, Dec. 1977 cat. 979, #48 ($375). Epps, Feb. 1978 cat. 5, #2 ($170). Bound with Elliott, The Vernal Walk. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #11 ($75). Uncut, original boards. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #138 ($225). Large paper (i.e., untrimmed). Heald, begin page 33 | ↑ back to top
Hoare, P. An Inquiry into . . . the Arts of Design in England, 1806. Frontis. stained, sold with 2 other vols. SL, 30 May 1977, #296 (Quevedo, £45).
Hogarth, W. Works. Baldwin & Craddock, 1822, pls. “restored” by Heath. Walford, Jan. 1976 cat. A/239, #32 (£415); Feb. 1976 cat. A/241, #152 (£405); April 1976 cat. A/242, #132 (£410). SB, 6 July 1976, #69 (£75). Baldwin & Craddock, n.d., pls. “restored” by Heath. SB, 6 July 1976, #73 (£160); #74 (£160). Boydell, n.d. SB, 6 July 1976, #72 (£150).
Boydell, n.d., soiled, minor tears. SL, 25 Jan. 1977, #511 (P. Collins, £450). Baldwin, Craddock & Joy, 1822, damaged. SL, 31 Jan. 1977, #202 (Collins, £420). With the pls. restored by Heath, 1822, publisher not specified. SH, 27 Oct. 1977, #385 (Ayres, £150); #387 (not sold); #388 (Ayres, £150). SL, 30 Jan. 1978, #268 (Belmont, £950). Presumably all these copies contain the pl. engraved by Blake, but none of the sales descriptions refer to it.
Hunter, J. An Historical Journal, quarto, 1793. CL, 24 Nov. 1976, #44 (£410). F. Hammond, Summer 1977 cat. 208, #540 (£850).
Josephus. Works, [1800?]. Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #28 (£50).
Lavater, J. C. Aphorisms on Man, 1788. Bridge Conachar, Jan. 1977 cat. 1, #320 (£12.50). SL, 30 Jan. 1978, #176 (Woodman, £100).
Lavater, J. C. Essays on Physiognomy, 3 vols. in 5. First ed., 1789-98. Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #26 (£175). CL, 13 Oct. 1976, #65 (£120). E. M. Lawson, Nov. 1977 cat. 192, #225 (£ 55). Reissue of begin page 34 | ↑ back to top
Malkin, B. H. A Father’s Memoirs of His Child, 1806. Cover detached. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #12 ($150). Original boards, uncut. Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #27 (£110). Uncut, William Beckford’s copy with his annotations. Alan Thomas, Nov. 1977 cat. 36, #129 (£550). For more information on this Beckford copy, see Blake Newsletter, 10 (Fall, 1976), 57.
Rees, A. The Cyclopaedia, 1819-20. Complete in 45 vols. plus 6 vols. of pls. SL, 17 Oct. 1977, #118 (Dawson, £530). SL, 31 Oct. 1977, #281 (C. W. Traylen, £380). Vol. 3 of pls. only. Walford, Feb. 1976 cat. A/241, #169 (£35). Vol. 4 of the pls. only. Walford, Jan. 1976 cat. A.240, #236 (£35); July 1976 cat. A.246, #53 (£33).
Ritson, J. Select Collection of English Songs, 3 vols., 1783. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #13 ($350). Heritage Book Shop, March 1977 cat. 1, #19 ($500).
Salzmann, C. G. Elements of Morality. 3 vols., 1791. CL, 2 June 1976, #23 (£ 150). SH, 22 April 1977, #2269, pl. numbered 32 in vol. II illus. (Jerrold, £260).
Salzmann, C. G. Gymnastics for Youth, 1800. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #14 ($200).
Scott, J. Poetical Works. 1782, in a fancy vellum binding with a fore-edge painting. SL, 16 May 1977, #226 (Maggs, £320). 1782, clean. Quaritch, Dec. 1977 cat. 979, #50 ($200). Second ed., 1786, cover detached. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #15 ($85); #140, with cover ($150).
Shakespeare, W. Dramatic Works, Boydell’s 9 vol. ed., 1802, soiled. SL, 18 Oct. 1976, #136 (Davidson, £80).
Shakespeare, W. Plays, ed. Chalmers, 9 vols., 1805. Bridge Conachar, Sept. 1976 cat. 76/2, #648 (£45).
Stedman, J. G. Narrative. 2 vols., 1796. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #141 ($500); Dec. 1976 cat. 30, #173 ($500). 2 vols., second ed., 1813, soiled, lacking 1 pl., not specified. SL, 21 Feb. 1977, #282 (Brockhaus, £65). 2 vols., second ed., 1813, pls. hand colored. CL, 23 Feb. 1977, #15 (Hammond, £260). 2 vols., second ed., 1813, lacking 1 pl., not specified, binding damaged. SL, 14 March 1977, #210 (Caplan, £40).
Stuart, J., and N. Revett. Antiquities of Athens. 5 vols., 1762-1830. SNY, 18 May 1976, #56A (estimate $600-750, not sold). 4 vols., 1762-1816, soiled and damaged. SL, 25 Jan. 1977, #340 (Fjnopoulos, £260).
Varley, J. A Treatise on Zodiacal Physiognomy, 1828. Tear in final pl., nicely repaired. SH, 29 begin page 35 | ↑ back to top June 1977, #122 (Heald, £195). This is the first copy to be sold at a British auction since 1928, according to British Auction Records.
Wollstonecraft, M. Original Stories from Real Life, 1791. First states of the pls., with a duplicate of pl. 1. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec.
[View this object in the William Blake Archive]
Young, E. Night Thoughts, 1797. With “Explanation” leaf, uncut, the pls. hand colored following the earlier (Group I, 1797) style (as in copy Q in Bentley, Blake Books, pp. 645-46); from the Marsden J. Perry and W. A. White collections. CNY, 18 Nov. 1977, #110, title-page to Night the Third illus. color (Witten, $18,150). Certainly a world record price, far above the estimate for this previously unrecorded copy. As of Feb. 1978, in the stock of the bookdealer Laurence Witten, Southport, Conn.
Young, E. Night Thoughts, 1797, uncolored copies. With “Explanation” leaf, tear in lower margin of title-page to Night the Second. Seven Gables Bookshop, Blake List Dec. 1975, #17 ($2750). Original boards, uncut, lacking “Explanation” leaf. Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #30a, cover illus. (£1200). Lacking “Explanation” leaf, some spotting, with the early state of the title-page to Night the Second. SH, 29 June 1977, #119, early state illus. (Heald, £720). Lacking “Explanation” leaf, some pages trimmed, binding damaged. SH, 26 Oct. 1977, #163, pl. 1 illus. (Sanger, £560). Lacking “Explanation” leaf, original boards, uncut. Alan Thomas, Nov. 1977 cat. 36, #127 (£1200). Lacking “Explanation” leaf, some leaves trimmed. CL, 2 Feb. 1977, #120 (£900).
Young, E. A collection of prospectuses and advertisements, including the Night Thoughts prospectus and the Job and Dante cover labels, none of which are mentioned in the sale catalogue. SH, 3 Dec. 1976, #119 (purchase price not known, but I am told the lot was acquired by the Bodleian Library, which owns the only other recorded copy of the Night Thoughts prospectus—see Bentley, Blake Records, p. 59).
IV. UNIQUE MATERIALS RELATED TO BLAKE
Beckford, W. See under Malkin, Part III.
D’Israeli, I. Letter to the bookseller G. Dyer asking for a copy of “Blake’s Young” and complaining about two portfolios “which he had of him.” SL, 13 Dec. 1977, #309 (J. F. Fleming, £65).
Miró, Joan. Relief etching printed in colors of a poem by Ruthven Todd; one of the Miró-Todd plates following Blake’s techniques. SNY, 12 Nov. 1976, #366, illus. ($1200); another print by Miró of a poem by Todd using Blake’s relief etching method, #367 ($550).
begin page 36 | ↑ back to topV. BLAKE’S CIRCLE & FOLLOWERS
Calvert, Edward. A Memoir of Edward Calvert Artist, by His Third Son, 1893. Craddock & Barnard, Sept. 1976 cat. 133, #45 (£1500); Aug. 1977 cat. 135, #41 (£1500).
“The Bride,” wood engraving, final state. Colnaghi, March 1977 prints cat., #10, illus. ($750).
“The Brook,” wood engraving, final state. Weston Gallery, Jan. 1976 cat. 12, #9, illus. ($184.50).
Craddock & Barnard, Sept. 1976 cat. 133, #46, illus. (“Sold,” no price given). Lott & Gerrish, Dec. 1976 cat., #108, illus. (£220).
“The Chamber Idyll,” wood engraving, final state. Craddock & Barnard, Sept. 1976 cat. 133, #47 (“Sold,” no price given). Colnaghi, March 1977 prints cat., #11, illus. ($600).
“The Cyder Feast,” wood engraving, final state. David Tunick, Jan. 1977 cat. 9, #38, illus. ($200).
“The Flood,” lithograph, inscribed “original impression from Miss Calvert’s Collection.” SB, 25 May 1976, #2 (£120).
“The Return Home,” wood engraving, final state from the Carfax portfolio. Lott & Gerrish, Dec. 1976 cat., #109, illus. (£200).
Flaxman, John. Self-portrait and study of a sarcophagus, two pages from a sketchbook, pencil, one inscribed 1779, 4 × 5 in., 5 ¼ × 3 ½ in. SL, 1 April 1976, #75 (not sold).
“Studies for a Last Judgment,” pencil and ink, inscribed “Enoch” and “W. Blake,” 7 × 10 in. SL, 18 Nov. 1976, #191 (£30).
“The Tempest,” extensively inscribed, and design for a tomb, two wash drawings, 5 1/4 × 7 in. CL, 27 April 1976, #11 (£50).
Oeuvres de Flaxman . . . , Paris, n.d., 150 pls. Walford, July 1976 cat. A.246, #20 (£34).
La Divina Comedia . . . Composto . . . Flaxman, proofs of all 111 pls., all but the last 23 captioned in pencil. Amsterdam, 1793. A note in an early hand on the cover states that these are first proofs, with the captions by Mrs. Flaxman and annotations by Flaxman on one Purgatorio pl. There are also minor revisions in pencil in some designs corresponding to the plates in later editions. Bentley, The Early Engravings of Flaxman’s Classical Designs, p. 47, locates only one copy, incomplete, of this first ed. of the Dante pls. SH, 20 June 1977, #292 (Heald, £170). Now in the author’s collection.
The Odyssey of Homer, 1805. Argosy Book Stores, Oct. 1977 cat. 668, #269 ($50).
For Flaxman’s classical designs, see also “Flaxman,” Part III.
Four letters. SL, 22 June 1976, #168 (not sold). Seven early receipts, 1781-84. SL, 22 June 1976, #168 (Jeffrey, £60).
Fuseli, Henry. “Daniel,” ink drawing, 8 ⅝ × 5 in. CL, 1 March 1977, #13, illus. (£850).
“The Dream of Prince Arthur from Spenser’s Faerie Queene,” charcoal drawing after Fuseli’s print, 44 × 33.5 cm. SNY, 15 Jan. 1976, #98, illus. (price unknown).
“Macbeth and the Armed Head,” oil, 94 × 118 cm. SNY, 15 Jan. 1976, #99, illus. (price unknown). Sheet of figure studies, ink, 7 ½ × 8 in. SL, 24 Nov. 1977, #190, illus. (£2200).
“Rape of Ganymede,” lithograph. R. E. Lewis, June 1977 prints cat., #10, illus. ($2800).
Linnell, John. “The Destroyer,” watercolor, dated 1860, 8 × 12 ½ in. SL, 29 July 1976, #247 (£270).
“Stacking Barley near Witley,” watercolor, dated 1863, 8 ⅝ × 14 in. CL, 1 March 1977, #165, illus. (£450).
“Journey to Emmaus,” mezzotint, 1839. SB, 25 May 1976, #5 (£100).
“Sheep in a Surrey Landscape” (“Sheep at Noon”), etching on laid India, 1818. Craddock & Barnard, Sept. 1976 cat. 133, #364 (£35).
A group of 10 portraits, engravings and mezzotints, some proofs before letters. SB, 25 May 1976, #6 (£50).
Two pp. letter to S. C. Hall, 24 Dec. 1863. Grinke, Spring 1976 Supplementary List, #101 (£ 12).
Palmer, Samuel. Six finished watercolors illustrating Milton, all illus., #185, 190 in color. CL, 8 June 1976, #185, “The Eastern Gate,” 19 ½ × 27 ¾ in. (£11,000); #186, “The Towered City,” 20 ⅛ × 27 ⅞ in. (£6000; later offered Colnaghi, Sept. 1976 drawings cat., #73, no price given, and Agnew & Sons, Jan. 1978 cat., #67, £15,000); #187, “The Curfew,” 19 ⅝ × 28 in. (£6000; later offered Agnew & Sons, Jan. 1977 cat., #98, detail illus. color, £12,000 and Jan. 1978 cat., #73, £15,000); #188, “The Bellman,” 20 × 27 ¾ in. (£10,000); #190, “Morning,” 19 ¾ × 27 ⅞ in. (£16,000).
“Backways, Tintagel,” watercolor, 7 ⅜ × 10 ⅝ in. Agnew & Sons, Jan. 1978 cat., #59 (£3000).
“The Evening Ploughman,” illustrating Milton, watercolor, 4 ⅛ × 6 in. CL, 9 Nov. 1976, #131 (£1700).
“Mount Siabod,” watercolor, 14 ¾ × 18 ⅞ in. CL, 8 June 1976, #184 (£1350).
“Papigno on the Nar,” pencil and brown wash, dated 1871, 5 ⅜ × 7 ⅜ in. CL, 1 March 1977, #90, illus. (£600).
“Sunset,” watercolor, 6 ¼ × 9 ⅝ in. Agnew & Sons, Jan. 1977 cat., #99 (£5500).
Eclogues of Virgil, 1883. Large paper. Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #32, “Opening the Fold” illus. (£580). SH, 11 Nov. 1976, #329, “Opening the Fold” illus. (Garton, £390). Craddock & Barnard, Aug. 1977 cat. 135, #356 (£700). Regular issue. SH, 30 June 1977, #462 (Donnithorne, £270); #463 (Ayres, £200). SH, 28 Oct. 1977, #464 (Moore, £350).
Etchings for the Art Union of London by the Etching Club, 1857, with 3 pls. by Palmer. CL, 26 July 1977, #403, “Sleeping Shepherd” and “Weary Ploughman” illus. (£300).
Life and Letters of Samuel Palmer, by A. H. Palmer, 1892. Large paper issue. SH, 11 Nov. 1976, #330 (Samuels, £90). Small paper issue. SH, 11 Nov. 1976, #330 (I. Sanger, £75). George’s, July 1977 cat. 632, #393 (£100). CL, 26 Oct. 1977, #226 (£60). SH, 28 Oct. 1977, #446 (Dawson, £85).
“The Bellman,” etching, sixth state. Weston Gallery, Dec. 1977 cat. 11, #10, illus. ($2035).
“Christmas,” etching. Third state. SB, 14 Dec. begin page 37 | ↑ back to top
[View this object in the William Blake Archive]
“The Cyprus Grove,” etching, second state. Craddock & Barnard, Aug. 1977 cat. 135, #353 (£105). Weston Gallery, Dec. 1977 cat. 11, #14, illus. ($222).
“Early Ploughman,” etching. Third state. SB, 25 May 1976, #15, illus. (£210). Fourth state. SB, 21 Sept. 1976, #43, illus. (£140). SB, 14 Dec. 1976, #312 (£90). SB, 14 Dec. 1976, #314, illus. (£160). SB, 5 April 1977, #217 (£90); #218 (£80). Fifth state. Lott & Gerrish, Dec. 1976 cat., #323, illus. (£400). SNY, 10 Nov. 1977, #268, illus. ($550). Weston Gallery, Dec. 1977 cat. 11, #8, illus. ($416). Seventh state. David Tunick, Jan. 1977 cat. 9, #167, illus. ($1350). Weston Gallery, Nov. 1977 cat. 10, #33, illus. ($736). SNY, 6 May, 1976, #287, illus. ($950). Eighth state. CL, 18 May 1976, #418 (£80). SNY, 23 June 1976, #197, illus. ($325); #197A ($250).
“Herdsman’s Cottage,” etching, second state. SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #21 (£65); #22 (£55). SB, 25 May 1976, #13 (£60); #16 (£45). CL, 27 July 1976, #282 (£60). Weston Gallery, Sept. 1976 cat. 8, #30, illus. ($235). SB, 14 Dec. 1976, #313 (£75). Weston Gallery, Dec. 1977 cat. 11, #2, illus. ($315).
“Homeward Star,” etching, second state. Lott & Gerrish, Dec. 1976 cat., #326, illus. (£110). Weston Gallery, Aug. 1977 cat. 135, #362 (£105). Weston Gallery, Dec. 1977 cat. 11, #13, illus. ($222).
“The Lonely Tower,” etching, final state. SNY, 19 May 1977, #356, illus. ($1400).
“Moeris and Galatea,” etching, second state. SB, 5 April 1977, #216, illus. (£140). Craddock & Barnard, Aug. 1977 cat. 135, #355 (£105). Weston Gallery, Dec. 1977 cat. 11, #16, illus. ($222).
“The Morning of Life,” etching, seventh state. Lott & Gerrish, Dec. 1976 cat., #324, illus. (£195). Weston Gallery, Dec. 1977 cat. 11, #9, illus. ($518).
“Opening the Fold,” etching. Fourth state, signed in pencil. SNY, 19 May 1977, #357 (not sold). Seventh state. Lott & Gerrish, Dec. 1976 cat., #325, illus. (£230). Eighth state. CL, 18 May 1976, #419 (£90). Craddock & Barnard, Aug. 1977 cat. 135, #351 (£125). Weston Gallery, Dec. 1977 cat. 11, #11 ($416); #12, fifth state, illus. ($232).
“The Rising Moon,” etching, seventh state. SNY, 19 May 1977, #354 ($200). Weston Gallery, Dec. 1977 cat. 11, #6, illus. ($555).
“The Sepulchre,” etching, second state. Craddock & Barnard, Aug. 1977 cat. 135, #354 (£80). Weston Gallery, Dec. 1977 cat. 11, #15, illus. ($222).
“The Skylark,” etching. Seventh state. SB, 21 Sept. 1976, #42, illus. (£170). Weston Gallery, Dec. 1977 cat. 11, #3, illus. ($536). Seventh state but before letters. Weston Gallery, Feb. 1976 cat. 1, #22, illus. ($520).
“Sleeping Shepherd,” etching, fourth state. Weston Gallery, May 1976 cat. 5, #28, illus. ($427.50); Dec. 1977 cat. 11, #5, illus. ($555). Fourth state, slight discoloration. SNY, 19 May 1977, #353 ($150).
“Weary Ploughman,” etching. Third state, signed in pencil and inscribed “Early Trial Proof—Touched for Working.” SNY, 19 May 1977, #335, illus. ($2100). Seventh state. SB, 25 May 1976, #14 (£110). Eighth state. Lott & Gerrish, Dec. 1976 cat., #322, illus. (£225). SNY, 23 June 1977, #253 ($175). SNY, 10 Nov. 1977, #267, illus. ($600). Weston Gallery, Dec. 1977 cat. 11, #7, illus. ($713). With “The Morning of Life” and “The Herdsman’s Cottage,” final states. SNY, 23 June 1976, #196 ($500).
“The Willow,” etching. Second state. Weston begin page 38 | ↑ back to top Gallery, Dec. 1977 cat. 11, #1, illus. ($305). Third state. CL, 27 July 1976, #281 (£65).
About 140 letters, 1836-81, to George Richmond and his family, together with letters by Hannah Palmer and others. SL, 22 June 1976, #172 (Grinke, £1400).
Early autograph manuscript, entitled “How to Choose Teas” and “Snuff,” 2 pp., with address leaf to Richmond, postmarked 6 Oct. 1823. Heald, July 1976 cat. 1, #33 (£80).
Richmond, George. 23 early drawings, 1824-30, 13 illus., from the collection of Richmond’s great-great granddaughter. Among the more important are “Figure of Plague” (#174, £650), “Prospero” (#173, £340), “Gathering in of the Vintage” (#174, £680), “The Enchanted Vale” (#181, £420), and a portrait of Richmond as a boy by his father (#170, not sold). SL, 18 Nov. 1976, #171-88.
24 early drawings, 1824-30, 8 illus., from the collection of Richmond’s great-great granddaughter. The most important are “A Pilgrim” (#25, £340), “Portrait of a Man Holding a Crook, possibly a portrait sketch of Blake” (#31, £80), “Portrait of Welby Sherman” (#32, £800).
Pencil sketch of the artist’s wife, inscribed Oct. 27, 1831, 8 ½ × 7 in. CL, 27 April 1976, #66 (£150).
Portrait of Henry Knyvett, 1827, pencil, no dimensions given. SL, 22 Dec. 1977, #221 (£40).
Portrait of Samuel Palmer, ink, inscribed Feb. 1830, 7 ¼ × 4 ½ in. SL, 15 July 1976, #16, illus. (£1800).
Study from “The Witch,” ink, 6 × 5 in. SL, 24 Nov. 1977, #21 (not sold).
“Captain William Wilbraham,” drawing, 1844, 14 ¾ × 11 ⅜ in. Agnew & Sons, Jan. 1978 cat., #63 (£750).
“A Young Boy,” ink, 6 × 3 ¾ in. SL, 22 Dec. 1977, #222 (£ 15).
“The Young Warrior” (dated 1829), a reclining nude and a devil, three pen drawings, 7 ½ × 4 in., 3 ¼ × 2 in., 3 × 4 in. SL, 24 Nov, 1977, #22 (not sold).
“The Fatal Bellman,” engraving. Slight foxing, from the collection of H. I. Richmond. SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #23, illus. (£420). SB, 14 Dec. 1976, #315, illus. (£580). Atlantic Gallery, 1977 cat. 1, #67 ($750).
“The Good Shepherd,” engraving, final state. Inscribed in pencil “Geo. Richmond, R. A. designed and engraved 1829,” slight foxing. SB, 25 May 1976, #17, illus. (£1100). Minor tears lower margin. SB, 21 Sept. 1976, #51 (£380). Small tears lower margin. Colnaghi, March 1977 prints cat., #9, illus. ($1400).
33 letters to his wife and 15 by his wife, the latter with references to sales of Blake’s Job and Dante plates. SL, 6 July 1977, #291 (Rota, £1700).
Letter to Palmer, 22 Feb. 1828, with sketches of Richmond. SB, 22 June 1976, #173 (Grinke, £130). See also letters to Richmond under Palmer, above.
Sherman, Welby. “Christ Praying in the Desert,” pencil, 4 ¼ × 2 ½ in. SL, 18 Nov. 1976, #179, illus. (£580). The sale catalogue notes that “this appears to be the first drawing by Welby Sherman to have come to light.”
“The Shepherd,” engraving, Sherman after Palmer. SB, 3 Feb. 1976, #24, illus. (£620). SB, 14 Dec. 1976, #316, illus. (£620). There seem to be only 4 known impressions of this plate, one of which is in the British Museum. Sherman received help from both Palmer and Richmond in executing the engraving.