Volume 45 · Issue 4

Abbreviations

Illuminated Books

For Children: The Gates of Paradise pl. 15 (inscribed “13” lower left). Larkhall Fine Art, Dec. private offer, 2nd st., datable to 1793 (price on application). A previously unrecorded impression.

Drawings and Paintings

Christ Raising Jairus’s Daughter. Tempera painting on stretcher 26.4 x 39.1 cm., datable to c. 1799-1800. Butlin #417. Given Dec. to the Mead Art Museum, Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts, by Henry deForest Webster. Accession no. 2011.54.

The Lion Lying Down with the Ox. See the verso of Sketches for “America” and Other Books, below.

Owen Glendower. Pencil, 23.2 x 18.1 cm., possibly a replica of Blake’s Visionary Head of c. 1819-20. Butlin #744. Given at an unrecorded time, probably between 1980 and 1993, by Mrs. Gerard B. Lambert (Grace Lansing Lambert) to Charles Ryskamp. Bequeathed by Ryskamp to the Frick Collection, New York, in 2010, accession no. 2010.3.08.

The Resurrection or The Last Trumpet (recto), with studies of eyes, the head of an eagle, a human face, and a lion (verso). Pen and gray ink, gray wash over pencil (recto), pencil (verso), recto image and leaf 20.5 x 21.2 cm. Recto datable to c. 1780-85; some of the verso sketches are related to Blake’s Designs to a Series of Ballads, Written by William Hayley, and thus are datable to c. 1802. Butlin #617 (listed as untraced since 1922). W.S Fine Art/Andrew Wyld, June cat., #13, illus. (£225,000). Acquired Oct. by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, accession no. 2011.448. For earlier sales and offers for sale, see Blake 43.4 (spring 2010): 119. For illus. of recto and verso and comments, see Martin Butlin, “A Blake Drawing Rediscovered and Redated,” Blake 34.1 (summer 2000): cover, 22-24. For a preliminary study, see The Resurrection of the Dead, next entry below.

The Resurrection of the Dead (recto); studies of a leg, 2 heads, a standing figure, and the head of an eagle (verso). Both pencil on laid paper, leaf 18.4 x 24.3 cm. Recto drawing datable to c. 1780-85, inscribed in ink “Drawn by William Blake / Vouched by Fred.^k Tatham.” Some of the verso sketches are related to Blake’s Designs to a Series of Ballads, Written by William Hayley, and thus are datable to c. 1802. Butlin #79 (recto only). Acquired Jan. by Essick from Windle. For earlier sales, descriptions, and illus., see Blake 26.4 (spring 1993): 141, illus. 2 (recto), 42.4 (spring 2009): 122, and 43.4 (spring 2010): 118-19, illus. 1 (verso).

Sketches for “America” and Other Books (recto), The Lion Lying Down with the Ox (verso). Pencil, leaf 20.5 x 26.7 cm. Butlin #226, the recto dated to c. 1793 and the verso to c. 1790-95. SNY, 25 Jan., #209, from the collection of Charles Ryskamp, recto and verso illus. ($56,250 to Windle acting for Essick). See illus. 1 and 2.

1. Sketches for “America” and Other Books. Pencil on wove paper, leaf 20.5 x 26.7 cm. Butlin #226 recto. … [+]

2. The Lion Lying Down with the Ox. Pencil on wove paper, leaf 20.5 x 26.7 cm. Butlin #226 verso. … [+]

A Woman Enthroned, Two Figures on Each Side. Pen and ink, leaf 17.8 x 26.0 cm. Butlin #99, dated to c. 1775-80. SNY, 25 Jan., #149, from the collection of Charles Ryskamp, illus. ($5313 to Windle acting for Essick). See illus. 3.

3. A Woman Enthroned, Two Figures on Each Side. Pen and ink on laid paper, leaf 17.8 x 26.0 cm. Butlin #99, dated to c. 1775-80. … [+]

Manuscripts

Letter of 18 Jan. 1808 to Ozias Humphry, 4 pp. describing Blake’s Last Judgment design. BHL, 29 March, #264, from the stock of the dealer Roy Davids, illus. (not sold; estimate £50,000-60,000). Probably the 2nd of 3 versions of this document. For earlier sales and attempts to sell, see Blake 42.4 (spring 2009): 122-23.

First Editions of Blake’s Writings First Published in Letterpress in Blake’s Lifetime

Monthly Magazine, vol. 20, 1 Jan. 1806 issue only, and vol. 21, 1 Feb. through 1 July 1806 issues. Keogh’s Books, Oct. online cat., uncut in contemporary boards worn, 7 distinct sets of 3 stabholes from prior pamphlet-style binding of each monthly issue, loss of spine at foot, printed spine label damaged, “21” printed (from a stamp rather than in a press?) on the spine (£50). The 1 July 1806 issue, pp. 520-21, contains Blake’s letter to the editor defending Fuseli’s painting of Count Ugolino (E 768-69). The original manuscript letter is untraced. This copy of the magazine suggests that either the publisher or another bookseller disbound unsold copies of individual issues and rebound them as roughly half-year volumes in cheap paper-covered boards.

Poetical Sketches, 1783. BHL, 22 March, #24, a previously unrecorded copy, binding, title page, and pp. 14-15 illus. online (£72,000 to Windle acting for Essick). Lacking the final blank leaf (K4), as in all but 7 copies, but otherwise collated complete. [5] Most leaves approx. 21.7 x 13.0 cm., leaf B1 narrower and leaves B4, D1, D4, E1, F1-2, G2, I2-3, and K1 shorter. The shortness of 2 pairs of leaves, D1,4 and I2-3, can be explained by imprecise placement of the paper during printing, but I am not able to explain the other short leaves based on the printing format. Laid paper without watermark, chain lines 2.8 cm. apart, all leaves between 0.11 and 0.12 mm. thick. [6] Some leaves appear to be uncut along their fore-edges, with evidence of deckle along the fore-edges of the 1st and 2nd leaves of some gatherings, although BB 345 records a larger leaf size of 22.3 x 13.9 cm. [7] Leaf B4 pasted to a stub, G1 and I4 each with a round hole, 3.0 mm. and 4.0 mm. in diameter, touching letters (described in the auction cat. as “paperflaw[s]” rather than later damage). Upper corner of the fore-edge of B1 and lower corner of the fore-edge of F1 torn off, the latter possibly during printing because of a paper flaw, neither affecting text. Some scattered foxing and spotting, particularly on the 1st 2 leaves. Dust and damp staining on the title page (leaf [A1r]) suggest that it was exposed without a cover for some years. Perhaps the final leaf, blank K4, was similarly soiled on its verso; this may have been a reason for its removal. Bound, probably in the 1st 3 decades of the 20th century, in dark-blue crushed morocco, blue cloth place-mark ribbon, marbled endpapers, 2 added flyleaves of off-white machine-made paper at the front and 2 at the back, gilt-stamped ruled frame lines front, back, and spine, the spine gilt stamped “POETICAL / SKETCHES / W. B. / 1783,” the inside front cover gilt stamped lower right “BOUND BY WOOD, LONDON.”
The stub for leaf B4, 1.0 mm. (head) to 5.0 mm. (tail) wide, was made from the inner margin of the conjugate leaf, B1. This procedure explains why B1 is narrower at the tail than at the head, which corresponds inversely to the stub, wider at the tail than the head. B4 is not a cancellans or facsimile; it may have required pasting to a stub because it became detached when a prior binding was removed and the spine slightly shaved for rebinding.
BB 345 notes the presence of “facsimile pages,” some showing a “MICHALLET” watermark, in 5 copies of Poetical Sketches, including whole gatherings H, I, and K (there is no J) in copies K, L, and U, gatherings I and K in copy P, and the “Advertisement” (leaf [A2]) in copy Q. BBS 107 states that the “Advertisement” in copy P is also “in facsimile.” BB points out that “the clearest indication of the facsimile [gatherings] is in the last words on p. 59, where the penultimate ‘Prepare’ is under the ‘w’ of ‘welcome’ in genuine copies and under the ‘c’ in the facsimile” (345n1). The absence of the facsimile watermark and the position of “Prepare” in this copy indicate that all gatherings are genuine. Bentley describes other features distinguishing original leaves from facsimiles in Blake 45.1 (summer 2011): 10. All leaves in this copy meet these criteria for an original, including the presence of the catchword (“THE”) on p. 59, the correct spelling of “honest-seeming” on p. 65, and the absence of any significant differences in paper thickness or the boldness of chain lines among leaves.
Three leaves (I2, I4, K3) show 3 stabholes just outside the gutter from a prior, pamphlet-style binding. These are 7.0 cm. from the top margin and 4.4 cm. and 3.0 cm. apart. Leaves D3 and E2 show only the top and bottom holes; C1-2, D2, D4, and F2 show only the top hole; H1 shows only the bottom hole. It is unusual for an octavo in half sheets to have been bound in this fashion, since the gatherings can be sewn through their inner folds. Blake’s wife, Catherine, apparently bound her husband’s illuminated books pamphlet-style, stabbed through the leaves within the left margin rather than sewn through the folds. [8] Thus, the stabholes may be remnants of the book’s original binding produced by Catherine. The absence of any evidence of this stabbing on most leaves is probably due to the rebinding of the holes into the book’s gutter. The present binding may have been produced by Harry Wood, active in London in the 1890s, or (more probably) by the successor firm continued by Henry Thomas Wood that operated under the name H. T. Wood from 1900 to the early 1930s. See Maurice Packer, Bookbinders of Victorian London (London: British Library, 1991) 166, and Mirjam M. Foot, Studies in the History of Bookbinding (Aldershot: Scolar P, 1993) 74.
For the title page, its inscriptions, and the book’s provenance, see illus. 4 and its caption. For Blake’s pen and ink annotations of the texts, see illus. 5 and its caption.

4. Poetical Sketches, title page, leaf 21.8 x 12.7 cm. … [+]

5. Poetical Sketches, p. 15, detail of “Mad Song,” 1st stanza, 3.9 x 5.3 cm. … [+]

Separate Plates and Plates in Series

“Chaucers Canterbury Pilgrims.” Campbell Fine Art, Feb. online cat., 3rd st., “a particularly brilliant impression,” illus. (“£30,000—sold.” A record price for any st. unless sold at a large discount. The auction record for any st. is £14,400.). Doyle auction, New York, 7 Nov., #296, “fourth state of four” (actually 5th st. of 5) on laid India, very probably a Colnaghi impression, some staining and foxing, illus. ($13,750 to a bidder on the telephone; estimate $2000-3000). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #45, 5th sts. on laid India, Colnaghi impressions, illus. ($15,000); #46, another Colnaghi impression, “trimmed fairly close to the image” ($9500). Windle’s #45 is probably the same impression offered Windle/Sotheran, June 2008 cat., #1 (£15,500).

Dante engravings. Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #52-55, pls. 2, 4-6 only, offered individually, laid India, printing date uncertain but probably the restrikes of c. 1892, pls. 2 and 6 foxed, illus. ($10,000 for pl. 2, $15,000 for pl. 4, $8500 for pl. 5, $7500 for pl. 6); #176, 1968 printing of 1 pl. not otherwise identified, included in the deluxe issue of the Blake Trust/Trianon P Illustrations of Dante (1978), half morocco folding case ($5500). For previous offers for sale of pls. 2, 4-6, see Blake 37.4 (spring 2004): 120, 39.4 (spring 2006): 156, 40.4 (spring 2007): 127, 42.4 (spring 2009): 123, and 43.4 (spring 2010): 121.

“The Fall of Rosamond,” after Stothard, 1783. Campbell Fine Art, Aug. online cat., trimmed to the circular image but retaining the signatures, described as 1st st., color printed (brown and pink) and hand colored, “with a companion piece in matching frame” not further identified, illus. (£2500; previously offered at the same price in March 2003 cat. 10, #17).

“George Cumberland’s Card.” Windle, Feb. cat. 48, #29, printed in brown, leaf 10.2 x 12.8 cm., illus. ($17,500); same impression, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #47, illus. (same price; previously offered at the same price in Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #21).

“The Idle Laundress,” after Morland, 1788. See “Industrious Cottager,” below.

“Industrious Cottager,” after Morland, 1788. Campbell Fine Art, Feb. online cat., 3rd st. printed in brown, laid paper, lower margin below signatures trimmed off but retained and with the title “pasted onto the backboard of the original frame,” illus. (£480). Wellers auction, Guildford, Surrey, 24 June, #758, with “The Idle Laundress,” titles and imprints trimmed off, probably final sts., color printed and “hand coloured,” both framed (not sold; estimate £50-80); same pair, 9 July, #2445, both illus. (£156). The 2 Wellers auctions show the importance of online illus. for attracting bidders.

Job engravings. Windle, Feb. cat. 48, #28, complete set of published “Proof” impressions on laid India, leaves 32.0 x 25.4 cm., modern half morocco, illus. ($82,500; previously offered at the same price in Windle’s Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #8, and by Simon Finch, July and Nov. 1997 cats. 31, #19, and 32, #18, for £26,000); June private offer, complete set of published “Proof” impressions on laid India, “J Whatman / Turkey Mill / 1825” watermark on 7 leaves, backing leaves 48.0 x 39.0 cm. and thus larger than untrimmed copies previously recorded at 43.5 x 33.7 cm., possibly a (unique?) large-paper copy, “early” cloth with spine and hinges worn, internally “fresh and clean” ($125,000; sold through Maggs to a private collector); Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #2-23, complete set of pls. offered individually, published “Proof” impressions on laid India, scattered foxing, all pls. illus. ($2950-5950 each); #24-29, title page and pls. numbered 3, 6-8, 17 only from the 1874 printing on laid India, illus. ($2000-2500 each); #119, complete set on “French” paper, 1826 printing, “original blue paper boards as issued, rebacked to match” ($89,500; for previous offers for sale, see Blake 40.4 [spring 2007]: 127 and 43.4 [spring 2010]: 121). Maggs, March cat. 1446, #96, pl. numbered 3 only, apparently a published st. (not further identified) on paper with a “J Whatman / Turkey Mill / 1825” watermark, from the collection of Douglas Cleverdon (£1800). R. E. Lewis & Daughter, May online cat., pl. numbered 13 only, published “Proof” impression on laid India, illus. ($3500—“sold”). Heritage Book Shop, Dec. private offer, 1874 printing on laid India, letterpress title page possibly printed for this copy when bound, 20th-century quarter calf ($32,500). For leaf sizes, see Essick, “Blake’s Engravings to the Book of Job: An Essay on Their Graphic Form with a Catalogue of Their States and Printings,” William Blake’s Illustrations of the Book of Job, ed. David Bindman (London: William Blake Trust, 1987) 98. For a manuscript advertisement for the Job engravings, see illus. 6.

6. John Linnell. Manuscript draft of an advertisement for Blake’s Job engravings, datable to 1825-26. … [+]

Letterpress Books with Engravings by and after Blake, Including Prints Extracted from Such Books

Allen, Roman History, 1798. Campbell Fine Art, Aug. online cat., Blake’s 4 pls. only, illus. (£1000; previously offered at the same price in June 2004 cat. 11, #9). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #1, Blake’s 4 pls. only, illus. ($1250; previously offered at the same price in Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #60).

Ariosto, Orlando furioso. EB, Jan., 1783 ed., vol. 3 (with Blake’s pl.) only, contemporary calf worn, marginal foxing on the pl., illus. (£63.20); March-April, 1799 ed., 5 vols., foxed, contemporary calf very worn, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of $250). Unsworth’s Booksellers, Jan. cat. 24, #333, 1791 ed., 2 vols., contemporary calf worn (£90). Booksborough, Sept. online cat., 1785 ed., 5 vols., contemporary calf worn, binding illus. ($749).

Bible. Royal Universal Family Bible, 1780-81. Keogh’s Books, March online cat., 2 vols., “leather much worn” (£424.23).

Blair, The Grave. EB, Jan., 1813 “folio” (but actually the quarto), later blind-embossed cloth similar but not identical to the 1870 publisher’s cloth, possibly rebacked, extensively illus. ($970); 1813 quarto, lacking 4 pls., heavy foxing, quarter calf very worn, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of $299.99); Feb., same copy ($249.99); June, 1813 quarto, later quarter roan worn, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of £680); Dec., 1808 quarto, imprint at foot of Blake’s pl. 1 trimmed off, contemporary half calf with a new spine, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of $2750). BHO, 22 Feb., #161A, 1808 “folio” (probably the quarto), spotting and damp staining “largely marginal,” later cloth soiled, illus. (£408). CSK, 13 June, #125, 1808 quarto, engraved title page cropped along foot, some soiling and spotting, contemporary half Russia very worn, front cover detached, illus. (£813). Grosvenor Prints, June online cat., 1808 quarto, damp staining and foxing, later cloth, illus. (£650); Blake’s pls. 3, 5, 10-12 offered individually, 1808 impressions, illus. (£95 to £140 each). Cox & Budge, July online cat., 1870 folio, foxed, quarter roan very worn, illus. (£690). Campbell Fine Art, Aug. online cat., Blake’s pl. 2 only, 1813 imprint, illus. (£75—“sold”). Bauman Rare Books, Oct. cat., #92, 1808 “folio” (but actually the quarto), “soiled,” original boards rebacked, illus. ($7500). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #30-31, Blake’s pls. 10, 11 only from the 1808 folio ed., both illus. ($675 each; previously offered at the same price in Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #50-51); #32-44, complete pls. (including the frontispiece portrait of Blake) from the 1813 quarto ed., all pls. illus. ($395 each); #120, 1808 quarto, “early waterstaining not intruding into the text or plates,” contemporary calf rebacked ($3750).

Boydell’s Graphic Illustrations … of Shakspeare, c. 1803. DW, 15 June, #483, contemporary calf repaired, illus. (not sold; estimate £1000-1500). Charles Agvent, Sept. online cat., contemporary half calf worn, covers detached ($3500); another copy, contemporary morocco worn, front cover detached ($4000). EB, Oct.-Nov., scattered foxing, contemporary calf rebacked, illus. ($1334).

Bryant, New System … of Ancient Mythology. Unsworth’s Booksellers, Jan. cat. 24, #73, 1774-76, 3 vols., contemporary calf very worn, 1 cover detached (£360). Windows Booksellers, Aug. online cat., 1774-76, 3 vols., some stains and foxing, “full leather” very worn, some covers detached ($600). McDowell Books, Aug. online cat., 1774-76, 3 vols., minor foxing, modern half calf ($1500). BHO, 29 Nov., #636, 1775-76, 3 vols., contemporary calf worn, illus. (£125). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #121, 1775-76, 3 vols., contemporary calf worn ($1500; previously offered at the same price in Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #62).

Cumberland, Outlines from the Antients, 1829. Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #122, foxed, 19th-century quarter morocco ($975). For previous offers for sale, see Blake 42.4 (spring 2009): 125 and 43.4 (spring 2010): 123.

Cumberland, Thoughts on Outline, 1796. Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #48-51, Blake’s pls. 4, 5, 7, 8 only, offered individually, illus. ($350-500 each). For previous offers for sale, see Blake 40.4 (spring 2007): 131, 42.4 (spring 2009): 125, and 43.4 (spring 2010): 123.

Darwin, Botanic Garden. EB, Jan., 2nd ed. of Part 1, 3rd ed. of Part 2, both 1791, 2 vols., scattered foxing, contemporary calf very worn, covers detached, illus. ($596); March, 1799 ed., 2 vols. in 1, scattered foxing, contemporary half calf, illus. ($431.88); May, 1799 ed., 2 vols., some pls. foxed, later three-quarter calf, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of £497.75); 2nd ed. of Part 1, 3rd ed. of Part 2, both 1791, 2 vols. in 1, scattered light foxing, contemporary calf, illus. ($720); July, 3rd ed. of Part 1 (1795), 4th ed. of Part 2 (1794), 2 vols., lacking the frontispiece to Part 1 but apparently with all of Blake’s pls., some browning mostly in margins, contemporary calf rebacked, illus. (£880). Unsworth’s Booksellers, Jan. cat. 24, #183, 1799 ed., vol. 1 only, pls. foxed, contemporary calf worn (£75). DW, 11 May, #313, 1799 ed., 2 vols., some spotting, 20th-century half calf worn (£120). Bauman Rare Books, June online cat., 1st eds. of both parts (1791, 1789), 2 vols. in 1, contemporary calf rebacked ($4800). Fine Editions, June online cat., 2nd ed. of Part 1, 3rd ed. of Part 2, both 1791, 2 vols. in 1, later calf ($2850). Natural History Books, June online cat., 1799 ed., 2 vols., “mild foxing” to pls., half calf ($1200). Antiquités Duvert Martial, June online cat., 3rd eds. of both parts (1795, 1791), 2 vols. in 1, some browning and tears in pls., “leather” worn (€500). Richard Sylvanus Williams, June online cat., 1799 ed., 2 vols. in 1, “hardback” very worn, frontispiece and title page loose, spine missing (£99). Quaritch, July cat. 2011/13, #15, 1st eds. of both parts (1791, 1789), 2 vols., some spotting, imprint on Blake’s pl. 1 (and others?) trimmed off, contemporary calf rebacked, illus. (£2800; previously offered Dec. 2009 cat. 2009/19, #50, for £2500, perhaps before rebacking). Bow Windows, Oct. online cat., 1799 ed., 2 vols., light foxing, modern calf, binding illus. (£600). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #123, 1st ed. of Part 1, 3rd ed. of Part 2, both 1791, 2 vols., foxed and stained, contemporary calf ($1250). DW, 14 Dec., #387, 1st ed. of Part 1 (1791), 2nd ed. of Part 2 (1790), 2 vols. in 1, Blake’s pl. 6 from the 3rd ed. of Part 1 (1795) bound in, slight spotting, contemporary calf very worn, covers detached, illus. (£260). The copy sold at DW may be a reissue of the 1st ed. of Part 1 when Blake’s pl. 6, “Tornado” after Fuseli with an Aug. 1795 imprint, was available for inclusion.

Enfield, The Speaker, 1795. Stuart Bennett, Oct. online cat., contemporary sheep rebacked ($225).

Fenning and Collyer, New System of Geography, 1785-86. Rulon-Miller, March online cat., 2 vols., Blake’s pl. 1 in a previously unrecorded 2nd st. of 3, Blake’s pl. 2 in the 2nd st. of 2, pls. and text leaves slightly water stained and wrinkled, crude 20th-century half calf ($2500; acquired by Windle for Essick). The only copy I have seen on the market in the last 43 years. For further information on this and other copies, see William Blake’s Commercial Book Illustrations in the appendix.

Flaxman, Hesiod designs, 1817. Meiwes, Jan. online cat., foxed, some pls. loose, publisher’s boards worn (€300). The Lark, April online cat., bound with Flaxman’s Aeschylus designs, n.d. (c. 1818?), foxed throughout, “leather … repaired” ($900). McLean Arts & Books, April online cat., “no foxing, no stains,” recent three-quarter calf ($1200). Maggs, June online cat., “internally very clean,” original boards worn (£300). Bookworks, Oct. online cat., scattered slight foxing, later half morocco worn ($900). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #124, with Flaxman’s Iliad (1805), Odyssey (1805), and Aeschylus (1831) designs, 4 vols., “original quarter green cloth” ($2750). Rosebery’s auction, West Norwood, south London, 13 Dec., #556, “leather” binding, illus. (not sold; estimate £200-300). As I reported in Blake 43.4 (spring 2010): 123, the Windle set was sold in 2009 to the Morgan Library and Museum, but they returned it after several months.

Flaxman, Iliad designs, 1805. Meiwes, Jan. online cat., foxed and water stained, most pls. loose, publisher’s boards worn (€320). EB, Dec., later half calf worn, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of £220). See also the Hesiod designs, above.

Fuseli, Lectures on Painting, 1801. Isseido Booksellers, March online cat., slightly spotted, contemporary calf ($731). Sanctuary Books, March online cat., modern quarter morocco ($1000). Lawrences auction, Crewkerne, Somerset, 21 July, #3010, stains, contemporary morocco worn, upper cover detached (£60).

Gay, Fables. EB, Dec. 2010, Blake’s pl. 11 only, full leaf with lower margin trimmed off and a strip of paper, approx. 5 cm., attached, light foxing, illus. (£73.50); Jan.-Feb., Blake’s pl. 7 only, full leaf, illus. (£48); Feb., Blake’s pl. 2 only, full leaf, illus. (£82.99); Oct., [1811] ed., 2 vols., modern cloth (offered at the “buy it now” price of £177.50); Nov.-Dec., Blake’s pl. 9 only, full leaf, illus. (£109); Dec., 1793 ed., 2 vols., some pls. foxed, contemporary calf worn, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of $375). Unsworth’s Booksellers, Jan. cat. 24, #394, [1811] ed., 2 vols. in 1, light foxing, contemporary calf very worn (£95); March online cat., 1793 ed., 2 vols., contemporary morocco (£500). BL, 27 Jan., #148, 1793 ed., 2 vols., lacking 1 unidentified pl., contemporary calf rebacked and worn, illus. (£180). BHSF, 13 Feb., #2062, 1793 ed., 2 vols., with Aesop, Fables (1793), 2 vols., uniformly bound in later calf, bindings illus. ($1098). Windle, Feb. cat. 48, #31, 1793 ed., 2 vols., 19th-century half morocco, illus. ($1500); another copy, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #125, 2 vols., contemporary calf worn ($1500; previously offered at the same price in Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #75). Rulon-Miller, March online cat., 1793 ed., 2 vols. in 1, contemporary calf rubbed ($1125). James Cummins, Dec. cat. 110, #20, 1793 ed., 2 vols., 20th-century calf, illus. ($1250). DW, 14 Dec., #401, 1793 ed., 2 vols., scattered foxing, contemporary morocco worn, binding illus. (£250). Some of these “1793” copies may be the [1811] issue.

Hayley, Ballads, 1805. Peter Bowen, Belfast, Dec. 2010 private offer, 2nd st. of pls. 1-3, uncut, quarter roan over marbled paper boards (£3400). Windle, Feb. cat. 48, #32, 1st st. of pls. 1-3, early boards with a roan backstrip, illus. ($6750); same copy, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #126 (same price; previously offered at the same price in Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #35). BHO, 22 Feb., #471, 1st st. of pls. 1-3, modern half calf, with Hayley, Triumphs of Temper (1803), Hayley, Life of Romney (1809), and a group of books about Blake, title page to the Ballads illus. (£816). Pride and Prejudice Books, Oct. online cat., 2nd st. of pls. 1-3, “elegant blue morocco” by Tout and Sons ($5200).

Hayley, Essay on Sculpture, 1800. Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #56-58, Blake’s 3 pls. sold individually, pls. 1-2 foxed, illus. ($375, $495, $595 respectively; previously offered at the same prices in Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #76-78).

Hayley, Life of Cowper, 1803-04. Unsworth’s Booksellers, Jan. cat. 24, #409, apparently 1st ed., with Cowper, Poems (1806), 4 vols. in all, contemporary calf very worn (£180). Art of the Print, Feb. online cat., Blake’s pls. 1 and 2 only, offered individually, illus. ($795 each). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #127, 1st ed., “including Supplementary Pages” not otherwise described, 4 vols. in all, some foxing, contemporary calf worn ($1250); another copy, #128, 2nd ed., 3 vols., calf rebacked ($975; previously offered at the same price in Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #37).

Hayley, Life of Romney, 1809. EB, Sept., probably small-paper issue, signature and imprint on Blake’s pl. either bound into the gutter or trimmed off, scattered foxing, contemporary calf very worn, illus. (£159). BG, 6 Oct., #22, later half calf (£110). SNY, 19 Oct., #418, “Cosway” style binding by Rivière & Son inset with 11 miniature portraits, probably by C. B. Currie, based on Romney’s paintings, illus. (not sold; estimate $25,000-35,000). See also Hayley, Ballads, above. For a pl. possibly connected with this book, see the discussion in the introductory essay to this sales review and the “Portrait of Romney” under Romney, below.

Hayley, Triumphs of Temper, 1803. Paul Grinke, April cat. 4, #41, large-paper issue untrimmed, “occasional very light foxing,” half morocco (£850). James Fenning, May online cat., contemporary calf, “small portion of calf on both boards eaten” (£450); same copy and price, July cat. 255, #90. EB, June, small-paper issue, scattered foxing, contemporary calf, illus. ($610.99). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #129, large-paper issue untrimmed, later half morocco ($2750). Jarndyce, Dec. online cat., “few spots,” later calf (£750). See also Hayley, Ballads, above.

Hoare, Inquiry, 1806. Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #59, Blake’s pl. only, illus. ($875; previously offered at the same price in Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #82).

Hogarth, The Beggar’s Opera by Hogarth and Blake, 1965. Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #60, publisher’s folding box slightly worn, illus. ($975; the same or similar copies offered at the same price in Nov. 2006 cat. 42, #28, and Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #85).

Hogarth, Works. BL, 20 Jan., #434, 1822 ed., 156 pls. on 116 leaves, contemporary half morocco worn, Blake’s pl. (4th st.) illus. (£2400; estimate £700-1000). Isseido Booksellers, March online cat., 1822 ed., “half leather” ($6095). D & E Lake, March online cat., undated Baldwin and Cradock ed., contemporary half morocco worn ($4555.80). Grosvenor Prints, March online cat., Blake’s pl. only, good impression probably of st. 2, 3, or 4, illus. (£490).

Hunter, Historical Journal, 1793. Maggs, Dec. 2010 cat. 1444, #142, quarto issue, large-paper copy on “super fine, Wove Royal” paper, contemporary morocco, binding illus. (£15,000—a record asking price). Best Buy Books, March online cat., quarto issue, recent buckram (£2950). Banfield House, March online cat., octavo issue, half “leather” ($4000 Australian). EB, June, octavo issue, scattered foxing, modern half calf, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of $1950 Australian).

Josephus, Works. EB, Dec. 2010, Blake’s pl. 1 only, brown stain lower left in image, the impression previously offered on EB in Nov. 2010, illus. (no bids once again on a required minimum bid of $125); Jan., BB issue A, stains and other defects, contemporary calf, spine very worn, covers missing, illus. (£57); March, Blake’s pl. 2 only, 3rd st., illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of $125); same impression, April, illus. (same required minimum bid and result); July, BB issue D, lacking 1 pl. not by Blake, stained and foxed, contemporary calf very worn, illus. ($91); Blake’s pl. 3 only, marginal stains, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of €149, reduced the next week to €69, in Aug. to €59, and in Nov. to €45.90). Flora Books, March online cat., BB issue A or between A and B, contemporary calf rebacked (£320).

Lavater, Aphorisms, 1788. Paul Grinke, April cat. 4, #47, 1st st. of the pl., small engraved oval portrait of Lavater pasted to the front flyleaf, contemporary sheep, illus. (£450). The oval portrait is probably the engraving by William Holl published in James Harrison, The Biographical Cabinet, vol. 1 of 1823.

Lavater, Essays on Physiognomy. EB, Jan., 15 pls. only including Blake’s pls. 3-4, illus. (£24). BHSF, 13 Feb., #2088, 1810 ed., 3 vols. in 5, scattered foxing, later Russia worn, illus. ($976). Thomas Joyce, March online cat., 1789-98 ed., 3 vols. in 5, something of a wreck with serious staining and “warped boards” ($500). Ian Marr, Nov. Boston Book Fair, parts 3, 5, 7, 12, 21, 22, and 36 as originally issued in printed wrappers, including Blake’s pls. 1 and 2 in parts 5 (dated July 1788) and 3 (May 1788) respectively, front wrappers of parts 3 and 5 torn and stained with loss of text, front wrappers of parts 7, 21, 22 signed by the 3rd Earl of Pomfret (George Fermor, 1768-1830), housed in a paper folder with the printed label of the “Easton Neston Library” pasted to the front cover, inside front cover of the folder inscribed “Augusta Holmes” in large letters, with an engraved receipt for part 22 in the amount of 12s., dated 27 Feb. 1792, issued to Lord Pomfret and signed by Henry Hunter, the translator of the work (£140 for the lot; acquired by Windle for Essick). Ursus Rare Books, Dec. cat. 300, #44, 1810 ed., 3 vols. in 5, later three-quarter morocco, illus. ($3500; previously offered at the same price, April 2009 online cat.).

Malkin, Father’s Memoirs of His Child, 1806. Windle, Feb. cat. 48, #33, uncut, contemporary half morocco, illus. ($1875; previously offered at the same price in Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #57); another copy, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #130, “virtually untrimmed,” full morocco worn (same price).

Novelist’s Magazine, vol. 10, Sir Charles Grandison, 1783. Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #61-63, Blake’s 3 pls. offered individually, pl. 1 trimmed to the image, illus. ($75 for pl. 1, $50 each for the other 2). For previous offers for sale, see Blake 42.4 (spring 2009): 127 and 43.4 (spring 2010): 127.

Olivier, Fencing Familiarized, 1780. EB, Dec. 2010, minor scattered foxing, contemporary boards with later calf spine, illus. (€371).

Rees, Cyclopædia, 1820. Best Buy Books, March online cat., pls. vol. 1 only (presumably containing Blake’s pl. 1), “original cloth” rebacked ($1450—a record asking price for a single vol. of pls.). Francis Edwards, March online cat., 39 text vols. and pls. vols. 1-4, 6 (presumably containing all 7 Blake pls.), contemporary calf very worn, covers detached (£1200). EB, April, Blake’s pls. 4-6 only offered individually, illus. (£12 for pl. 4, £15 each for pls. 5-6). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #131, pls. vol. 4 only with Blake’s pls. 4-7, Blake’s pl. 3 from vol. 3 loosely inserted, foxed, half calf ($750).

Remember Me!, 1825. BHSF, 13 Feb., #2048, pale marginal damp stain on Blake’s single pl., “publisher’s printed boards with old rebacking in red muslin, custom clamshell box,” illus. ($6710 to Windle acting for Northwestern University; estimate $1500-2000). EB, April, Blake’s pl. only, light marginal staining, the impression from the collection of Frank Rinder sold CL, 30 Nov. 1993, #10 (£1955 to Ed Buryn, the vendor on EB), illus. (reserve claimed by Buryn to be $5000 not met; highest bid $1810).

Ritson, Select Collection of English Songs, 1783. Ximenes, Jan. cat. M19, #153, 3 vols., recent half calf (£300). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #132, 3 vols., presentation inscription by Ritson, contemporary calf worn ($1250).

Salzmann, Elements of Morality. Second Life Books, March cat. 176, #117, 1799 ed., 3 vols., lacking half titles, 1 pl. “amateurishly hand-coloured,” soiled and with some marginal tears, later 19th-century half roan worn ($3000). Chapter House Books, March online cat., 1792 ed., vols. 1-2 of 3 only, 12 pls. in vol. 2 hand colored, browned and soiled, “full leather” very worn ($175).

Seally and Lyons, Complete Geographical Dictionary. HollyPetal Books, Oct. online cat. on Amazon UK, vol. 2 of 2 only but with all 3 of Blake’s pls., 1st sts., dated to “1787” by the vendor but actually the undated 1st ed. published by John Fielding and tentatively dated to “?1784” in BB #495A, contemporary suede worn, illus. (£300; acquired by Essick). The only copy of this ed. listed in BB is at “Yale” (Sterling Memorial Library, Yale University). The only copy of any ed. of Seally and Lyons with Blake’s pls. I have seen on the market in the last 43 years.

Shakespeare, Dramatic Works, 1802. Johanson Books, Sept. online cat., 9 vols., binding not described ($7500).

Shakespeare, Plays. EB, Aug., 1805 ed., small-paper issue in 9 vols., lacking 1 pl. not by Blake, scattered foxing, contemporary half calf very worn, spines damaged, illus. ($95); 1811 ed., 9 vols., scattered foxing, contemporary calf rebacked, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of $1000); 1805 ed., large-paper issue in 10 vols. lacking vol. 10 and thus lacking Blake’s pl. 2, pls. foxed, 19th-century half calf very worn, parts of spines missing, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of £24.99). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #133, large-paper issue in 10 vols., some browning, “old calf restored” ($4750; previously offered at the same price in Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #95).

Stedman, Narrative, 1796, colored copy. Windle, Feb. cat. 48, #34, 2 vols., 3 pls. heightened with gold, contemporary boards rebacked with modern calf, illus. ($29,750; acquired March by Victoria University Library, Toronto. Previously offered at the same price online in Oct. 2010.).

Stedman, Narrative, uncolored copies. EB, Jan., Blake’s pl. 8 only, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of $49.99); same impression(?), Feb.-March, illus. ($56.55); May, 1796 ed., vol. 2 only, light foxing and marginal water stains on pls., early cloth-backed boards badly stained, illus. (£256). BL, 24 Feb., #47, 1796 ed., 2 vols., foxed, contemporary half Russia very worn, illus. (£1300). Arader Galleries, “Spring” cat., no item #, 1813 ed., 2 vols., 19th-century half morocco “scuffed,” illus. ($6400). Tennants auction, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, 13 April, #94, 1796 ed., 2 vols., lacking 3 Blake pls., contemporary half calf very worn, illus. (£550). DW, 11 May, #184, 1796 ed., 2 vols., light foxing, contemporary calf rebacked, worn, illus. (£1600). Campbell Fine Art, Aug. online cat., Blake’s pls. 6, 8, and 10 only, offered individually, illus. (£175, £275, and £225 respectively). Bauman Rare Books, Sept. private offer, 1796 ed., 2 vols., contemporary calf rebacked ($8500). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #64-78, Blake’s pls. 1, 3-16 offered individually, pls. 4, 9, 11 from the 1813 ed., all others from the 1796 ed., pls. 3, 5 with stains, 12 pls. illus. ($100-500 each; pls. 4, 9, and 11 previously offered at the same prices in Nov. 2006 cat. 42, #81-83).

Virgil, Pastorals, 1821. Stuart Bennett, Jan. cat. 55, #28, 2 vols., 19th-century calf rebacked, Blake’s wood engravings bound very close to (but not into) the gutter, illus. ($32,500). Larkhall Fine Art, June online cat., Blake’s pl. 5 (his 1st wood engraving) only, full sheet with letterpress text, with “folds and other imperfections” not affecting the engraving, illus. (£2400). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #134, 2 vols., early 19th-century calf ($47,500; sold to a British private collector. Previously offered at the same price in Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #40.).

Virgil, later impressions of Blake’s wood engravings printed by or for the Linnell family. Larkhall Fine Art, Aug. private offer, 21 impressions of BB #504.8 (Blake’s 4th wood engraving), 14 impressions of BB #504.13 (Blake’s 9th wood engraving), all printed on thin paper laid onto wove paper backing leaves, with an envelope inscribed in pencil by John Linnell, Jr.: “Pastorals / 5 impressions—of the blocks / as samples for average strength [printing pressure?] / J. Linnell May 1892 / to be returned” (£650 each). According to Nicholas Lott of Larkhall, these impressions are “well printed and show some considerable detail compared to many rather heavy over-inked Linnell printings.” John Linnell, Sr., acquired the blocks in 1825. According to John Linnell, Jr., some impressions were printed for his father by Edward Calvert (I suspect shortly after acquiring the blocks) and “J. L. jun. & brother printed a few of the blocks, but did not finish the set” (BB 630, quoting from a manuscript “List of John Linnell Senior’s Letters and Papers” in the Ivimy Archive now in the Fitzwilliam Museum). The Larkhall impressions are apparently from that later printing (or series of printings), no later than 1892, by J. L., Jr., and one of his brothers. Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #79, “fifth cut” (actually Blake’s 6th wood engraving), Linnell impression, accompanying a copy of Essick and Windle, A Troubled Paradise (1999), no. 4 of 13 copies thus, publisher’s wrappers and folding cloth box, illus. ($3500; sold to a British private collector. For previous offers for sale, see Blake 39.4 [spring 2006]: 170, 40.4 [spring 2007]: 134, and 42.4 [spring 2009]: 132.).

Virgil, Wood Engravings of William Blake, 1977. Buddenbrooks, March cat. for the New York Book Fair, #16, no description of the binding but apparently in the publisher’s folding box, prospectus inserted ($14,500—a record asking price).

Wit’s Magazine, 1784. EB, April-May, Blake’s pl. 4 only, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of $495; for earlier offerings of this impression, see Blake 44.4 [spring 2011]: 125). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #80, “Plate 4” (actually Blake’s pl. 5) only, “little soiled,” illus. ($400; for previous offers for sale, see Blake 37.4 [spring 2004]: 126, 40.4 [spring 2007]: 134, and 42.4 [spring 2009]: 128); #135, complete vol. 1 bound with vol. 2 (1785), with the 2nd of 2 pls. of “The Temple of Mirth” after Stothard (BB pl. 2, CB pl. 1B), repaired tears in some pls., later half calf ($5750).

Wollstonecraft, Original Stories, 1791. Swann auction, New York, 7 April, #134, 2nd st. of pl. 1, sts. of other pls. not recorded, modern calf, pl. 1, title page, and binding illus. ($4320); same or very similar copy, Bromer Booksellers, Aug. online cat. ($8500). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #136, 2nd sts., light staining on 2 pls., later morocco ($6750; previously offered at the same price in Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #44).

Young, Night Thoughts, 1797, uncolored copies. CL, 8 June, #41, with the “Explanation” leaf, some pls. slightly trimmed, “occasional light browning and spotting,” contemporary morocco worn, illus. (£4750). CNY, 23 June, #104, with the “Explanation” leaf, minor spotting, modern morocco, illus. ($10,000; estimate $3000-4000). Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #81-118, all 38 leaves of 43 pls. (some printed recto/verso) offered individually, all pls. illus. ($495-1250 each); #137, complete vol., 2 pls. before imprints, with the “Explanation” leaf, later full morocco ($15,000; previously offered Oct. 2009 cat. 46, #45, for $25,000). Heritage Book Shop, Dec. private offer, with the “Explanation” leaf, leaves trimmed, a few small stains, contemporary calf rebacked ($12,500).

Interesting Blakeana

T. Taylor, The Mystical Initiations, 1787. Jeffrey Marks, Jan. online cat., quarter cloth over boards, title page detached and inner margin stained, other slight defects ($750). John Price, Jan. online cat., contemporary sheep rebacked, corners restored (£660). For the Bodleian Library copy with Blake’s annotations, see Philip J. Cardinale and Joseph R. Cardinale, “A Newly Discovered Blake Book: William Blake’s Copy of Thomas Taylor’s The Mystical Initiations; or, Hymns of Orpheus (1787),” Blake 44.3 (winter 2010-11): 84-102.

E. Swedenborg, Wisdom of Angels, Concerning Divine Love and Divine Wisdom, 1788. Antiquaria Bok, July online cat., contemporary half calf worn ($806). The final 3 lines of text on the title page are “PRINTED AND SOLD BY W. CHALKLEN, GROCERS COURT, / POULTRY. / M.DCC.LXXXVIII.” The transcription in BB #742 omits “AND SOLD” and the line break before “POULTRY.” Blake’s copy in the British Library is available in Eighteenth Century Collections Online <http://find.galegroup.com/ecco>, but his annotations are mostly illegible.

T. Butts, signature. BHL, 7 June, #20, commissions issued by George III and George IV to George Collard of the Royal East India Company Volunteers, 1798-1820, including a document of 17 Oct. 1805 countersigned by Blake’s patron Thomas Butts “in his capacity as joint chief clerk in the office of the Commissary General of Musters,” illus. (not sold; estimate £400-600); same group of documents, BHO, 27 Sept., #15, illus. (£400). According to the auction cats., the signature reads “Entered with the Commissary General of Musters / Tho: Butts.”

T. Butts, “Man on a Drinking Horse.” Etched by Butts (father and/or son), 1806, possibly with Blake’s assistance. EB, March-April, c. 1942 printing, illus. ($50). For illus. and information about this print, see Alexander S. Gourlay, “‘Man on a Drinking Horse’: A Print by Thomas Butts, Jr.,” Blake 37.1 (summer 2003): 35-36.

L. Schiavonetti, a letter mentioning his engraving of Blake’s portrait for Blair’s Grave, 1808. BHL, 29 March, #326, 3 undated letters, 1 stating “I wish to know whether it would make any material difference was I to execute it [a portrait of Lord Grey] in a free line manner similar to Blake’s Portrait for Mr Cromek …,” 5 pp. in all, postmarked 1803-10 (£180). Apparently not the same as the letter by Schiavonetti, also referring to the engraving of Blake’s portrait, dated 30 Jan. 1810 to Messrs. Cadell and Davies, offered by Nicholas Lott, May 2003 (£300).

Blake, “Death’s Door,” an etched copy, dated 1820, of Schiavonetti’s pl. for Blair’s Grave (1808), showing only the old man entering the tomb. Grosvenor Prints, March online cat., illus. (£140). See illus. 7.

7. “Death’s Door,” an etched copy of Blake’s design. … [+]

“Interior of the Sessions House, Old Bailey,” etching/engraving so inscribed and signed lower right “Blake del et sc.” in the pl., image 10.6 x 16.3 cm. Grosvenor Prints, Sept. online cat., dated to “c. 1820” but possibly earlier given the graphic style and costumes of the figures, illus. (£95). I very much doubt that this awkward and amateurish print was executed by Blake the artist and poet.

J. Linnell, children of. An album of drawings and watercolors, probably dating from the 1830s, by the children of Blake’s patron John Linnell. The collection includes charmingly juvenile watercolor copies of pls. from Blake’s Songs of Innocence, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, and For the Sexes: The Gates of Paradise, the coloring of the children’s own invention. Acquired Aug. by a British private collector.

The Child’s Gem. A Holiday Gift. Ed. Mrs. S. Colman. Boston: T. H. Carter and Company, “1844” (actually 1843, the copyright date). EB, Nov., scattered foxing and browning, publisher’s cloth worn, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of $50). Includes, pp. 85-88, Blake’s “The Chimney Sweeper” from Songs of Innocence, with Blake’s long lines changed to 2 lines each, with a tailpiece of a child playing a tambourine. Not in BB or BBS. For other publications by Colman containing Blake’s poems, see Raymond H. Deck, Jr., “An American Original: Mrs. Colman’s Illustrated Printings of Blake’s Poems, 1843-44,” Blake 11.1 (summer 1977): 4-18.

Nightingale Valley, ed. “Giraldus” (William Allingham), 1860 (BB #264). Jarndyce, Dec. 2010 online “Christmas” cat., no entry #, publisher’s cloth (£180). Includes 4 poems from Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience. In a note, Allingham explains that “it remains to add that for the version of ‘The Tiger,’ here presented [95-96], differing somewhat from those hitherto published, use has been made of a MS. book of Blake’s, belonging to a friend of the editor, full of the oddest chaos of verses, drawings, and memoranda” (275-76). The “friend” was Dante Gabriel Rossetti and the “MS. book” was Blake’s Notebook. Allingham’s version is based loosely on drafts on pp. 108-09 of the Notebook, with punctuation added, spelling changed, and lines 15-18, 21-24 of the etched version omitted. He also made 2 substantive but unauthorized revisions, “ardour” for “fire” in the 2nd stanza (“Burnt the fire of thine eyes?” E 24) and “God” for “he” in the 4th (“Did he smile his work to see?” E 25). Allingham’s final line in the 3rd stanza (“What dread hand form’d thy dread feet?”) follows Blake’s manuscript revision in copy P of Songs of Innocence and of Experience (see E 794). The ownership of copy P (now Getty Collection, Wormsley Library, Buckinghamshire) between 1855 and 1931 is unknown. Allingham’s notebook with transcriptions of poems from Blake’s Notebook is in the Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand; see D. F. McKenzie, “William Allingham’s Notebook of Poems by Blake,” Turnbull Library Record 1.3 (March 1968): 9-11. My comments here correct and supplement my statements in Blake 34.4 (spring 2001): 110.

Correspondence concerning attempts to sell Blake’s The Spiritual Form of Pitt Guiding Behemoth to the National Gallery, London, 1870. See Palmer, six letters, below.

W. Blake, Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, Muir facsimiles, 1884, 1885. BHNY, 10 Oct., #1070, 2 vols., original wrappers for Experience bound in, copy 9 of Innocence, copy 40 of Experience, vols. uniformly bound in vellum ($3750).

W. Blake, Little Tom the Sailor, Muir facsimile, 1886. EB, Jan., the leaf showing part of the countermark of the laid paper with a “DICKINSON” watermark used for impressions published in Century Guild Hobby Horse 1.4 (Oct. 1886), illus. (£205). All copies I have seen that were issued in the journal were folded at least twice. This example, with a single central fold, may not have been published in the Hobby Horse. The vendor provided an image of the countermark in response to my inquiry but did not indicate in his EB description that this is a lithographic reproduction. Some bidders may have believed it to be an original impression even though the vendor did not explicitly make that claim. Windle, Feb. cat. 48, #30, leaf 55.9 x 22.9 cm. “folded thrice, with stab holes in the margin,” from the Hobby Horse, illus. ($750).

W. Blake, There Is No Natural Religion, Pickering facsimile, 1886. Windle, Dec. “Pictorial Blake” cat., #200, large-paper issue, later morocco ($2500).

W. Blake, America, Muir facsimile, 1887. Windle, Dec. private offer, uncolored issue, copy no. 13, later buckram with the original wrappers bound in ($7500).

W. Blake, Poetical Sketches, Ballantyne Press ed. with decorations by Charles Ricketts, 1899. Sotheran’s, Sept. “Private Press” cat., #330, 1 of 8 copies printed on and bound in vellum, illus. (£8500).

“M^rs Q,” Blake after Villiers, the lithographic facsimile of 1906. EB, Oct., version on laid paper with color printing in green on the foliage right of the figure, illus. (£52). This very convincing facsimile, offered on EB as an original, was printed on wove paper when published in Mrs. Q—and “Windsor Castle” with a Note on the Plates by Joseph Grego (London: Kegan Paul, 1906). All original impressions I have seen are on wove paper.

A collection of Blakean ephemera formed by Thomas Wright of Olney, c. 1912-27. John Hart, March cat. 91, #75, most materials in damp-stained albums, including programs for meetings of the Blake Society, 1912-27, correspondence with Frederick Hollyer and a copy of Hollyer’s advertisement for his Blake reproductions, a typed list of Blake’s works in the collection of Sydney Morse, newspaper and magazine clippings, the autograph manuscript of a speech by Wright, letters with several correspondents about Blake, and a typed catalogue of the 1927 Blake exhibition at the Free Library, Lambeth (£950).

Blake, Songs of Innocence and of Experience: Sixteen Designs Printed from Electrotypes of the Original Plates for Ruthven Todd and Geoffrey Keynes, 1941. Maggs, March cat. 1446, #99, loose in paper folder as issued, 1 of 20 sets, inscribed by Keynes to Douglas Cleverdon (£80 to Windle for stock; acquired April by Victoria University Library, Toronto). The only copy I’ve seen on the market since 1972.

Blake, Gerusalemme: L’ Emanazione del gigante Albione. Trans. Giuseppe Ungaretti. Milan: Fratelli Bocca Editori, 1943 (BBS 88). EB, March, publisher’s wrappers, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of €19.90). It is remarkable that a complete translation of Blake’s epic would be published in Italy in 1943, a year in which the country fell into chaos as it was being invaded from the south by the British and Americans and from the north by the Germans. Ungaretti (1888-1970) was an important figure in 20th-century Italian literature and a supporter of Mussolini. Perhaps the translator’s connections with the fascist government, before its fall in July 1943, gave him special access to publishers and printers.

Blake, Auguries of Innocence, illus. by Leonard Baskin, 1959. EB, Nov., no. 121 of 250 copies, signed by Baskin, publisher’s wrappers, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of $495).

Poems from William Blake’s Songs of Innocence, illus. by Maurice Sendak, 1967. Argosy Book Store, Nov. online cat., “inscribed on the flyleaf with an original ink sketch of a youthful Piper with his horn,” signed by Sendak, original wrappers ($8500). Apparently the copy offered at the same price, Justin Schiller, March 2002 cat. 50, #196, illus.

L. Baskin, Portrait of William Blake. Watercolor, 20.0 x 17.0 cm., inscribed “Blake for Roy from Leonard and Lisa … Baskin” and dated 1981. BHL, 29 March, #265, framed, from the stock of the dealer Roy Davids, illus. (£3600; estimate £1000-1500).

E. Paolozzi, Newton. Bronze, 58.4 cm. long, signed and dated “Eduardo Paolozzi 1993,” based on Blake’s color print of Newton. CL, 17 Nov., #123, illus. (£85,250). The monumental version of Paolozzi’s Newton stands in the forecourt of the British Library.

Blake’s Circle and Followers

Works are listed under artists’ names in the following order: paintings and drawings sold in groups, single paintings and drawings, letters and manuscripts, separate pls., books by (or with pls. by or after) the artist.

BARRY, JAMES

“The Distribution of Premiums at the Society of Arts,” etching, 1792. EB, Sept., 3rd st. of 4, leaf 43.0 x 52.8 cm., framed, illus. (offered at the aggressive “buy it now” price of $8900).

“Elysium or the State of Final Retribution,” outline engraving by James Mitan after Barry’s painting, n.d. (c. 1815?). EB, Nov.-Dec., foxed, illus. (£45).

“Jupiter and Juno on Mount Ida,” etching. Campbell Fine Art, Aug. online cat., only the 3rd recorded impression of the 1st st. with aquatint, 1777, printed in brown ink, trimmed to the platemark, 2 repaired tears, illus. (“sold”). BL, 13 Oct., #297, 2nd st., c. 1790, with 19 other prints by various artists, illus. (£420).

Self-portrait engraved by J. Heath, 1783. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., illus. (£130).

BASIRE, JAMES

“The Departure of Henry VIII from Calais,” outline engraving after S. H. Grimm, 1788. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., illus. (£360).

“The Distribution of His Majesty’s Maundy,” engraving after S. H. Grimm, 1789. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., illus. (£280).

“The Encampment of King Henry VIII at Marquison,” outline engraving after S. H. Grimm, 1788. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., illus. (£160).

“The Siege of Boulogne by King Henry VIII,” outline engraving after S. H. Grimm, 1788. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., illus. (£360).

Rogers, A Collection of Prints in Imitation of Drawings, 1778, individual pls. from or probably intended for. EB, Jan., 3 figures mourning over a dead woman(?) based on a drawing by Guercino, illus. ($42); a landscape based on a drawing by Guercino, marginal foxing, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of $40); April, “Assumption of the Virgin” after Domenichino, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of €70); “Moses Placed in the Ark of Bulrushes” after Eustache Le Sueur, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of €60); Nov., “Assumption of the Virgin” after Carlo Maratti, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of €150); “The Vestals” after Polidoro da Caravaggio, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of €90).

CALVERT, EDWARD

“The Bacchante,” wood engraving in part by Welby Sherman. Larkhall Fine Art, June online cat., 1 of 30 impressions from the Carfax printing of 1904, illus. (£575).

“The Cyder Feast,” wood engraving. Campbell Fine Art, Aug. online cat., from the Memoir (1893), illus. (“sold”).

FLAXMAN, JOHN

Online listings of Flaxman’s classical compositions with insufficient information to identify the ed. have been excluded. Individual prints of Flaxman’s classical designs offered on EB and 19th-century reengravings of Flaxman’s designs, such as those on a reduced scale by Henry Moses, are not included. See also Flaxman under Letterpress Books with Engravings by and after Blake, above.

Thirty-seven pencil and gray ink drawings of the Hesiod designs, a set created by Flaxman independent of the production of Blake’s pls. published in 1817 and showing differences in details from the pls. 22.7 x 30.5 cm., mounted on card and bound in a morocco album of the mid-1860s. Maggs, Jan. online cat. (£35,000; sold summer 2011 to an undisclosed collector or institution). For further information on this album and earlier attempted sales at higher prices, see Blake 43.4 (spring 2010): 135-36.

The Misses Harrison, Sharpe, and Rogers and Mrs. Sharpe at Samuel Rogers’s Party, 1800. Pen and brown ink, 22.7 x 18.6 cm., inscribed with the names of the figures and dated 10 June 1800. W.S Fine Art/Andrew Wyld, June cat., #22, illus. (£3750; previously offered June 2005 cat., #23, illus., for £7500).

Orestes and His Friend Pylades, attributed to Flaxman. Pencil, leaf 19.1 x 24.1 cm., with all but the tops of the letters of an ink inscription trimmed from the bottom margin, inscribed in pencil on the verso “John Flaxman” followed by a description of the scene. EB, Dec. 2010, illus. (£81). Probably a competent copy of pl. 23 in the 1831 ed. of Flaxman’s Aeschylus designs, but with a few very minor variants.

A Pair of Botanical Studies. Pen and brown ink, 17.1 x 15.2 cm. and 17.8 x 15.2 cm., both signed. SNY, 25 Jan., #115, from the collection of Charles Ryskamp, both illus. (not sold; estimate a startling $10,000-15,000). SH, 25 June, #330, illus. ($2500).

Portrait of Delvalle Elizabeth Rebecca Lowry. Pencil on wove paper, 17.3 x 13.4 cm., inscribed on the original mount “Flaxman” and the name of the sitter. SNY, 25 Jan., #121, from the collection of Charles Ryskamp, illus. (not sold; estimate $10,000-15,000). SH, 25 June, #338, illus. ($2750). An inscription on the back of the mat notes that the child portrayed was the daughter of the engraver Wilson Lowry and later the 2nd wife of John Varley. See Essick, The Separate Plates of William Blake: A Catalogue (Princeton: Princeton UP, 1983) 201-08 for Blake’s engraving of John Linnell’s portrait of Wilson Lowry.

Portrait of John Flaxman. Pencil, 18.5 x 19.0 cm., inscribed “Flaxman” in ink. Clevedon auction, Bristol, 10 March, #213, attributed to George Dance (1741-1825), illus. (£110). Possibly the preliminary drawing for the soft-ground etching by William Daniell after Dance, published 1 Feb. 1809.

Study of a Seated Male Nude. Pencil, 28.6 x 22.3 cm., signed “John Flaxman” and inscribed in another hand, “Academy” and “I sat behind Flaxman, at the R. A. / and saw him draw this / C H S—.” CSK, 10 Nov., #136, illus. (£1000). Previously offered BHL, 11 March 2008, #25, illus. (withdrawn for unstated reasons; estimate £1500-2000).

“Antigone Forced from Her Father,” lithograph by Maria Denman, 1827. EB, Jan., illus. (£50). See illus. 8.

8. “Antigone Forced from Her Father,” lithograph by Maria Denman from a drawing by John Flaxman. … [+]

Centerpiece candelabrum designed by Flaxman, stem and base by Paul Storr, 1816, branches by Philip Rundell and Storr, 1819. Silver gilt, 103.0 cm. high. CNY, 21 Oct., #173, illus. (not sold; estimate $600,000-900,000). The sculpted stem portrays Mercury delivering the infant Bacchus to the Nymphs of Nysa with panthers below. The event is related in Lucian’s Dialogi deorum; Ovid’s brief reference in book 3 of the Metamorphoses does not mention Mercury.

Acts of Mercy, etchings with aquatint by F. C. Lewis, 1831. EB, Jan., title page and 7 of 8 pls. (lacking “Feed the Hungry”), pl. 1 partly hand colored, scattered foxing, contemporary half calf worn, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of £660). Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., 3 pls. only, “Comfort the Afflicted,” “Comfort the Fatherless and the Widow,” and “Feed the Hungry,” offered individually, illus. (£120, £130, and £120 respectively).

Aeschylus designs, 1831. Meiwes, Jan. online cat., foxed, original boards worn (€150). Toby English, Jan. online cat., severe foxing, half morocco worn (£200). See also Iliad designs, below.

Dante designs. Zentralantiquariat Leipzig, Jan. online cat., Carlsruhe, 1833-35, contemporary boards (€90). Librairie Chapitre, Jan. online cat., 1867 ed., modern boards, illus. (€150). Unsworth’s Booksellers, Jan. cat. 24, #297, 1807 ed., contemporary calf worn (£200). J. Hunter Books, Jan. online cat., engraved by Réveil, n.d., “some spotting … hardcover” (£80). EB, Aug., Milan, 1822, scattered foxing, covers missing, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of €160); 1807 ed., foxed, contemporary quarter calf very worn, illus. (£113.66); Sept., Milan, 1822, scattered light foxing, contemporary vellum very worn and stained, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of €180); Nov., 1807 ed., scattered foxing, half morocco, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of £190 or “best offer”); Nov.-Dec., Del Vecchio ed., n.d. (c. 1820?), scattered foxing, no description of binding other than “copertina morbida” (soft cover), illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of €249).

Hesiod designs. See Iliad designs, below.

Iliad designs. EB, Jan., 1793 ed., bound with the Odyssey and Aeschylus designs, the latter 2 with title pages in French and without imprints, n.d. (c. 1818?), scattered light foxing, contemporary half calf worn, illus. ($160.27); Florence, 1826, bound with the Aeschylus, Hesiod, and Odyssey designs of the same date, scattered foxing, contemporary quarter vellum, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of €350); same copy, Feb., illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of €250); April, Del Vecchio ed., c. 1820?, 16 pls. only, contemporary wrappers, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of €25); Aug., 1793 ed., contemporary half calf worn, illus. (£99.99). Antiquariat Jean-Claude Enay, Jan. online cat., engraved by Riepenhausen, Berlin, c. 1817 or later reissue, some stains, early boards (€620); another copy, Antiquariat Lutz-Peter Kreussel, Jan. online cat., with the Odyssey designs engraved by Riepenhausen, both later reissues, foxed and with water stains, boards very worn (€220); the same or a very similar copy of both titles, Resource Books, Jan. online cat., later reissues, badly damp stained, contemporary boards very worn, covers detached ($325). Unsworth’s Booksellers, Jan. cat. 24, #295, “1796” ed. (an error for 1795?), with the Aeschylus (1795) and Odyssey (1805) designs, some foxing, half Russia very worn, spine lacking (£375).

Odyssey designs. Unsworth’s Booksellers, Jan. cat. 24, #297, 1805 ed., some foxing and spotting, early 19th-century Russia worn (£200). Meiwes, Jan. online cat., 1805 ed., foxed, pls. coming loose, publisher’s boards worn (€130). Keogh’s Books, Jan. online cat., 1870 ed., publisher’s boards worn (£150). EB, April, engraved by Réveil, 1835, publisher’s wrappers worn, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of $195); Aug., 1805 ed., foxed, original boards worn with cover label, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of £99.99); same copy, Aug.-Sept., illus. (£79.99); Dec., 1793 ed., modern half calf, original front wrapper bound in, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of £180); same copy, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of £200 or “best offer”). See also Iliad designs, above.

Oeuvres de Flaxman, engraved by Réveil, 1836. Antiquariaat Van Coevorden, Jan. online cat., 2 vols. only, the Dante designs and Sujets divers, “Contemp. leather bindings” (€1000). Librairie Ancienne Cambon, Jan. online cat., apparently complete in 2 vols., full calf (€420).

FUSELI, HENRY

A Fallen Horseman Attacked by a Monstrous Serpent (recto), Satan Looming over Job and a Seated Old Man (verso). Pen and brown ink, black chalk, leaf 38.1 x 29.8 cm. Bequeathed by Charles Ryskamp to the Frick Collection, New York, in 2010, accession no. 2010.3.07.

Huon Encounters Sherasmin in the Cave on Mount Lebanon. Oil, 61.0 x 45.0 cm., datable to 1804-05. Daniel Katz Gallery, advertised in the British Art Journal 11.2 (2010-11), detail illus. back cover (price on request). Previously offered by Richard L. Feigen & Co. at the European Art Fair, Maastricht, 12-21 March 2010, for $525,000. The design was engraved by James Heath and published as an illus. to canto 1, verses 18-19, of Christoph Wieland, Oberon, trans. William Sotheby, 1805 (imprint dated 1 March 1806).

Huon Rescuing Angela from the Giant Angulaffer. Oil, 61.0 x 45.0 cm., datable to 1804-05. SL, 8 Dec., #291, illus. (£385,250; estimate £60,000-80,000). The design was engraved by Francis Engelheart and published as an illus. to canto 3, verses 27-29, of Christoph Wieland, Oberon, trans. William Sotheby, 1805 (imprint dated 1 March 1806).

Lady Constance, Arthur, and the Earl of Salisbury (from Shakespeare, King John, III, I). Oil, 189.0 x 143.0 cm., datable to 1825. CL, 5 July, #30, illus. (not sold; estimate £200,000-300,000).

Portrait of Harriot Mellon. Pencil, 17.8 x 11.3 cm., signed and dated 1815 in ink and with an inscription in Greek just below the top margin. Lowell Libson, Jan. cat., pp. 86-87, illus. (price on request). The Greek inscription is from Euripides, Hippolytus: “But a clever woman—that I loathe! May there never be in my house a woman with more intelligence than befits a woman!”

A Sibyl. Pencil, leaf 11.6 x 13.7 cm. SNY, 25 Jan., #112, from the collection of Charles Ryskamp, with 2 impressions of an engraving of the design by Charles Grignion, both proofs before signatures, all 3 works illus. ($30,000). Grignion’s engraving was published in Lavater, Essays on Physiognomy, part 27 of 1793.

“Beatrice Eavesdropping on Hero and Ursula,” mezzotint by John Jones, 1791. Cheffins auction, Cambridge, 14 July, #13, with 5 prints not by Fuseli, illus. (£220).

“Milton When a Boy, Instructed by His Mother,” steel engraving by Henry Dawe, 1830. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., illus. (£95).

Balmanno, Pen and Pencil, 1858. EB, Sept.-Oct., lacking the frontispiece but presumably with the 2 wood engravings after Fuseli, publisher’s cloth very worn, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of $25 or “best offer”).

Bible, published by Macklin, 1800. EB, May, 7 vols., scattered foxing, contemporary calf worn, illus. ($3950).

Bonnycastle, Introduction to Astronomy, 1796. Barnaby Rudge, Aug. online cat., contemporary calf rebacked, illus. ($425).

Boothby, Sorrows, Sacred to the Memory of Penelope, 1796. Unsworth’s Booksellers, Jan. cat. 24, #336, contemporary half morocco worn (£500). EB, Jan., large-paper copy, “mild discoloration throughout,” contemporary boards, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of $279); Jan.-Feb., same copy and results on required minimum bids of $249 and $179.

Boydell, Collection of Prints … Illustrating … Shakspeare, c. 1803. Clars auction, Oakland, California, 6 Feb., #2078, 2 vols., contemporary morocco worn, illus. (not sold; estimate $4000-6000); same copy, 13 March, #6049, illus. ($2500). Individual pls. in published sts. are not listed.

Cooke’s Illustrations to the British Theatre. BG, 6 Oct., #164, light foxing, contemporary half calf worn (£40). Apparently published in the 1820s; see Weinglass 164.

Cowper, Poems. Thornton’s Bookshop, Jan. online cat., 1806 ed., 2 vols., foxed, contemporary calf very worn and “crudely repaired” (£60).

Darwin, Temple of Nature, 1803. EB, Jan., contemporary half calf worn, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of $699).

Gray, Poems, Du Roveray ed., 1800. Unsworth’s Booksellers, Jan. cat. 24, #405, contemporary morocco (£150). EB, Aug., margins of pls. foxed, contemporary calf, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of $375; previously offered at the same price, Jan. 2010); another copy, Nov., contemporary calf worn, illus. (£22.67).

Homer, Iliad. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., 4 pls. only offered individually, 2nd sts. of the pls. 1st published in 1805 with the imprints removed and inscriptions above the designs added, illus. (£60-70 each). EB, Oct., 1813 ed., 6 vols., pls. foxed, contemporary calf very worn, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of $179.99). The pls. offered by Grosvenor are Weinglass #227, 228, 230, and 232 as reissued in A Series of Engravings Illustrative of Pope’s Translation of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, dated by Weinglass to c. 1819-36.

Lavater, Essays on Physiognomy. EB, Dec. 2010, 1810 ed., 3 pls. only, “Brutus,” “S^t. John,” and the portrait of Fuseli, margins browned, illus. (£29.95).

Milton, Paradise Lost, Du Roveray ed., 1802. EB, Jan.-Feb., 2 vols., small-paper issue with the 2nd st. of the pls., scattered foxing, contemporary calf with damage to spines, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of £165); same copy, Feb., offered at the “buy it now” price of £165 (not sold; offered twice again at the same price in March-April and April-May).

Milton, Poetical Works, with Fuseli’s “Silence” engraved by John Rogers. Rulon-Miller, March cat. 142, #650, Chidley ed., 1844, publisher’s morocco ($250). EB, Oct., Churton ed., 1836 (the 1st to include the pl. after Fuseli), foxed, contemporary calf worn, front cover detached (offered at the “buy it now” price of $54).

Penny Magazine of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, vol. 1, 14 July 1832 issue. EB, Jan., disbound, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of £3.50). Includes John Jackson’s wood engraving of “Lycidas” after Fuseli.

Sartain’s Union Magazine of Literature and Art, vol. 5, 1849. EB, Aug., pl. after Fuseli only, “The Nightmare,” mezzotint by Samuel Sartain, illus. ($33.26).

A Series of Engravings to Illustrate the Works of Shakspeare, 1817. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., 2 pls. only offered individually, “Oberon Squeezing the Flower on Titania’s Eyelids” engraved by Richard Rhodes and “The Witches Appear to Banquo and Macbeth” engraved by William Bromley, illus. (£180 each).

Shakespeare, Plays, published by Stockdale, 1807. Classic Bindings, March online cat., 6 vols., contemporary morocco rebacked, bindings illus. (£4500). Antiquariat Markus Wolter, March online cat., 6 vols., contemporary half calf worn, bindings illus. (€2500). EB, Aug., 6 vols., contemporary calf very worn, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of £399.99); same copy, Aug.-Sept., illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of £199.99); same copy, Sept., illus. (£369).

Young, Catalogue of the Celebrated Collection of … Angerstein, 1823. EB, Aug., contemporary calf elaborately gilt, worn with some nasty stains, illus. ($229); half calf very worn, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of £79.99).

JEFFERYS, JAMES [9]

Heroic Classical Figure Group. Monochrome wash, 36.0 x 56.5 cm. BL, 13 Oct., #206, framed, illus. (£44,000; estimate £10,000-15,000).

LINNELL, JOHN

Six sketches and letters, including a pictorial letter dated 1828, another to Thomas Palmer (Linnell’s father-in-law) dated 1832, another dated 1863, and 3 small pen and ink sketches. Lawrences auction, Bletchingley, Surrey, 11 May, #1610A, the sketches described as “‘Seville’ [so inscribed], ‘A Cat and a Monkey,’ and a bat in flight with a nude female,” illus. (no price information; estimate £500-800).

Two chalk drawings, Studies of a Shepherd, leaf 26.9 x 35.0 cm., signed and dated 1820, and Portrait of the Reverend Thomas Thomas, leaf 18.4 x 13.7 cm., signed. SNY, 25 Jan., #71, from the collection of Charles Ryskamp, both illus. ($12,500).

An Angler by a River at Sunset. Watercolor, 11.4 x 19.3 cm., signed. CSK, 8 Dec., #396, illus. (£4750).

Captain Sutherland. Pastel portrait, 55.9 x 38.1 cm. Abbott and Holder, Nov. online cat. 412, #67 (£1100).

The Cattle Pond. Oil, 70.0 x 98.0 cm., signed and dated 1874. Lowell Libson, May online cat., illus. (not priced). Previously offered SL, 24 Nov. 2005, #6, illus. (not sold; estimate £8000-12,000).

The Cowper Madonna, after Raphael. Pencil with touches of watercolor, 19.0 x 14.0 cm., datable to 1822. EB, May, framed, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of £595); offered again with a required minimum bid of £495, same result. A preliminary drawing for Linnell’s miniature on ivory, painted between 22 April and 3 May 1822 and copying Raphael’s painting then in the possession of Lord Cowper. For the miniature, see Katharine Crouan, John Linnell: A Centennial Exhibition (Cambridge: Fitzwilliam Museum, 1982), #79 and illus.

The Farmer’s Boy. Watercolor, 43.8 x 27.7 cm., datable to 1829, inscribed “J. Linnell Shoreham.” SL, 8 July, #341, illus. (£85,250; estimate £30,000-50,000. Probably an auction record for a drawing by Linnell.). A preliminary drawing for Linnell’s oil painting of 1830, last offered for sale by the Fine Art Society and Lowell Libson, April 2008 cat., Power and Poetry: The Art of John Linnell, #4, illus. (price on request). The same figure appears in The Shepherd Boy Piping (see below).

A Felled Oak, Windsor Great Park. Black and white chalk, 32.4 x 44.4 cm., signed and dated 1815. CL, 5 July, #117, illus. (not sold; estimate £4000-6000); CSK, 8 Dec., #376, illus. (£3500). Previously sold SL, 30 Nov. 1978, #8, with 7 other tree studies by Linnell, illus. (£660).

Hampstead. Watercolor, 10.0 x 14.6 cm., signed. CSK, 8 Dec., #398, illus. (£5250). Very probably an early work, datable to c. 1815-20.

Harvest Dinner. Oil, 101.6 x 139.7 cm., signed and dated 1860. CL, 15 Dec., #69, illus. (not sold; estimate £120,000-180,000).

Harvest Time. Oil, 71.0 x 100.0 cm., signed and dated 1869. Halls auction, Shrewsbury, 26 Oct., #311, illus. (£5500).

Landscape with Figures and Sheep at Sunset. Oil, 29.2 x 45.1 cm., signed and inscribed on verso, “Retouched May 11/75 for Mr McLean. John Linnell Sen.” Mallams auction, Oxford, 13 July, #154, damaged upper right, illus. (not sold; estimate £800-1200). Rather crude; the attribution would be suspect without the verso inscription.

Landscape with Windmill, attributed to Linnell. Oil, 17.3 x 33.5 cm., inscribed “J. Linnell.” EB, Dec. 2010, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of $990).

Old Cottage, Probably Hampstead Heath. Pencil heightened with white on buff paper, 32.0 x 42.0 cm., inscribed on verso “J. Linnell.” EB, Nov., illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of £155).

On the Road from Harlech to Barmouth. Watercolor, 7.5 x 27.5 cm., title inscribed lower left. BHO, 16 March, #203, illus. (£384).

Path through a Wood, attributed to Linnell. Oil, 41.0 x 51.0 cm. Woolley & Wallis auction, Salisbury, 28 Sept., #148, illus. (not sold; estimate £400-600).

Piping down the Valleys Wild. Oil, 66.9 x 68.6 cm., signed “J. Linnell.” CSK, 10 Nov., #83, illus. (not sold; estimate £3000-5000). Previously sold CSK, 12 March 1998, #176, illus. (£3220), and 12 March 2008, #24, illus. (£5250). The title, not known to be Linnell’s own, is taken from Blake’s “Introduction” to Songs of Innocence. This painting bears no clear relationship to any design by Blake known to me.

Portrait of a Gentleman Wearing a Black Stock. Oil, 38.1 x 31.4 cm. EB, July, illus. (not sold at the “buy it now” price of $3500); Nov., illus. (same “buy it now” price). Previously offered Freeman’s auction, Philadelphia, 7 Dec. 2008, #15, illus. online (not sold; estimate $1000-1500), and EB, May-June 2009, illus. (reserve not met; highest bid $1777).

Portrait of a Young Gentleman. Pencil and wash, 34.0 x 27.0 cm., signed and dated 1847. EB, Jan., framed, illus. (£199).

The Refuge—Storm. Watercolor, 20.4 x 34.6 cm., signed and dated “[18]53.” Lowell Libson, May online cat., illus. (not priced).

Returning Home. Oil, 31.0 x 43.0 cm., signed “Linnell.” BHL, 18 Jan., #36, illus. (£1320). Although attributed to John Linnell by Bonhams, I suspect that this may be a work by his son William—if by a family member at all.

The Sheep Drove. Oil, 71.1 x 98.4 cm., signed and dated 1868. CL, 15 Dec., #46, illus. (not sold; estimate £15,000-25,000).

The Shepherd Boy Piping. Watercolor, 26.4 x 21.6 cm., inscribed “J. Linnell Shoreham,” datable to 1829. Lowell Libson, May online cat., illus. (not priced; sold to a “Private Collection, USA”). See also The Farmer’s Boy, above.

A Summer Landscape. Watercolor, 10.5 x 14.6 cm., inscribed “J.L. / [18]16.” CSK, 8 Dec., #399, illus. (£1188).

The Supper at Emmaus. Oil, 117.0 x 150.5 cm., signed and dated 1843. SL, 27 Oct., #141, illus. (£5000).

Three Studies of a Young Girl. Charcoal, leaf 33.0 x 50.8 cm., signed and dated 1862. BHNY, 26 Oct., #82, illus. ($1875).

Trees, Kensington Gardens. Watercolor, 14.2 x 13.1 cm., signed, datable to c. 1811. Lowell Libson, May online cat., illus. (not priced; previously offered Sept. 2006 cat., #33, illus., for $28,000).

View of Lymington, the Isle of Wight Beyond. Watercolor, 15.5 x 19.3 cm., signed and dated 1815. CSK, 8 Dec., #397, illus. (£2000).

View over Redhill, Surrey. Watercolor, 17.8 x 25.4 cm., inscribed lower left “Linnell Redhill.” John Nicholson auction, Haslemere, 7 April, #2053, illus. (“£170”—but probably not sold); 2 June, #2072, illus. (not sold; estimate £150-250); 27 July, #2033, illus. (no price information; estimate £100-150). Possibly by one of Linnell’s children.

Autograph letter signed to Richard E. Tagart, 2 pp., July 1846. BHL, 29 March, #297, concerning payment for a portrait (not sold; estimate £300-400). Previously offered EB, Oct. 2008, at the “buy it now” price of £150.

Manuscript draft of an advertisement for Blake’s Job engravings. See illus. 6.

“Sheep at Noon,” etching. Rosebery’s auction, West Norwood, south London, 5 Nov., #531, signed in the pl. and dated 1818, with 2 prints not by Linnell, illus. (£420; estimate £100-150).

MORTIMER, JOHN HAMILTON

A Battle in the Precincts of a Temple. Pen and ink, traces of black chalk, 23.5 x 37.2 cm. CNY, 26 Jan., #304, illus. ($8750).

Fishermen Drawing In Their Nets. Pencil, pen and ink, 36.2 x 41.9 cm. CL, 5 July, #112, illus. (£8750). The etching of this design by Robert Blyth is inscribed “Drawn by J. Mortimer, 1774” and “Publish’d … Nov.^r 9th 1780.”

Fishermen Netting a Drowned Man. Pen and ink, 12.7 x 17.8 cm., signed. Abbott and Holder, May online cat. 408, #59, “original wash mount” (£125).

Two Women Watching a Parrot in a Cage. Pen and ink, 25.6 x 25.0 cm., top corners trimmed diagonally. CNY, 26 Jan., #303, illus. ($13,750; estimate $3000-4000).

“Banditti Going Out” and “Banditti Returning,” etched by Robert Blyth, 1780. Grosvenor Prints, Oct. online cat., illus. (£260).

“Bardolph,” etched by Mortimer, 1775. Grosvenor Prints, Oct. online cat., illus. (£160).

“Battle of Agincourt,” engraved by Thomas Burke, 1783. Grosvenor Prints, Oct. online cat., on paper with an 1820 watermark, illus. (£280).

“Bearded Man with Turban and Young Woman,” etched by Robert Blyth, 1782. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., later printing, illus. (£160).

“Boat in a Storm at Sea,” etched by Blyth, n.d. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., later st. published 1805, illus. (£180).

Fifteen Etchings Dedicated to Sir Joshua Reynolds, etchings by Mortimer, 1778. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., title pl. only, illus. (£140); “Tragedy” only, illus. (£90); Nov. online cat., “Tragedy” and “Comedy,” a pair, illus. (£260).

“The Frere and Thomas,” an illus. to The Canterbury Tales engraved by James Hogg, 1787. EB, Dec. 2010, water stained, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of $32.10).

“Man Carrying His Stomach in a Wheelbarrow,” soft-ground etching by Samuel Ireland, n.d. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., illus. (£180).

“Man Struggling with Monster,” etched by Blyth, n.d. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., proof before letters printed in brown, illus. (£220).

“Marcus Curius Dentatus Rejecting the Bribes of the Samnites,” engraved by Anthony Walker, 1763. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., illus. (£240); another impression, marginal tear, illus. (£230).

“Nebuchadnezzar Recovering His Reason,” etched by Blyth, 1781. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., c. 1810 printing, trimmed to the platemark, illus. (£220).

“Packhorse with Soldiers,” etched by Blyth, 1783. EB, Oct., illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of $130).

“Silenus,” etched by Blyth, 1779. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., illus. (£130).

“Le Singe,” illustrating Frances Burney’s Evelina, engraving by Francesco Bartolozzi, 1779. Grosvenor Prints, Oct. online cat., proof before letters, illus. (£110).

“Soldier’s Death,” etched by Blyth, 1781. EB, Nov.-Dec., tear in upper margin, old creases, illus. (£50).

“Three Oriental Heads,” etched by Blyth, 1780. Art of the Print, Feb. online cat., titled “The Gypsies” by the vendor, trimmed close to the image on the sides, illus. ($495).

Twelve Characters from Shakespeare, etched by Mortimer, 1775-76. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., 6 pls. only offered individually, “Bardolph,” “Beatrice,” “Cassandra,” “Falstaff,” “Ophelia,” and “Shylock,” later printing by Palser, illus. (£160, £160, £180, £180, £230, £180 respectively).

“Two Male Oriental Heads,” etched by Blyth, 1782. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., later printing, illus. (£140).

PALMER, SAMUEL

Donnington, Berkshire. Watercolor, 29.5 x 52.8 cm., datable to 1843, signed “S. Palmer.” SL, 8 July, #339, illus. (not sold; estimate £30,000-50,000).

The Evening Star: A Landscape Study. Watercolor, 9.7 x 15.3 cm., datable to c. 1848-50. Lowell Libson, May online cat., illus. (not priced; sold to a “Private Collection, UK”).

The Golden Hour. Watercolor, 25.7 x 35.6 cm., signed, datable to 1865. Acquired c. 2010 by the Cleveland Museum of Art through Lowell Libson.

Head of Christ, attributed to Palmer and sometimes described as a self-portrait. Oil, 35.0 x 23.5 cm. Lyon & Turnbull auction, Edinburgh, 1 Nov., #248, from the Forbes collection, illus. (not sold; estimate £10,000-15,000). Previously offered CL, 20 Feb. 2003, #219, illus. (not sold; estimate £20,000-30,000). The attribution of this painting to Palmer has not been generally accepted.

In the Chequered Shade (a title taken from Milton’s “L’ Allegro”). Watercolor and body color, 20.2 x 43.2 cm., signed and dated 1861. Guy Peppiatt, May cat., #46, illus. (£35,000).

In Vintage Time. Watercolor and body color, 19.6 x 42.9 cm., signed and dated 1861. Guy Peppiatt, May cat., #45, illus. (£35,000).

Llyn Gwynant, North Wales. Pencil, leaf 18.0 x 22.5 cm., inscribed by Palmer with notes about the sky. SNY, 25 Jan., #100, from the collection of Charles Ryskamp, illus. ($10,625).

Porta di Posillipo and the Bay of Baiae, Italy, with Ischia and Misenum Beyond. Watercolor and body color, 19.7 x 41.9 cm. CL, 5 July, #180, illus. (not sold; estimate £7000-10,000).

The Simplest Rustic Cap. Pencil and chalk on wove paper, leaf 18.0 x 11.1 cm., inscribed “carrying wood” on the recto and the title on the verso. SNY, 25 Jan., #89, from the collection of Charles Ryskamp, illus. (not sold; estimate $7500-10,000). SH, 25 June, #345, illus. ($1500).

View of a Lake, attributed to Palmer. Monochrome wash, 9.0 x 12.5 cm. BL, 13 Oct., #98, “indistinctly inscribed lower left, ‘Parkhurst’?,” illus. (£1100).

Six letters and notes by Palmer and George Richmond. BHL, 29 March, #310, comprising an autograph letter signed by Palmer, “an autograph note [2 pp.] by him” about the “failed negotiations for a sale of William Blake’s picture The Spiritual Form of Pitt Guiding Behemoth to the National Gallery,” and 4 letters by Richmond, all to William Boxall, director of the National Gallery, “one letter each by Palmer and Richmond dated 7 July 1870” (£1440). Some of these letters may be among those sold SL, 24 Feb. 2000, #359 (£27,600).

Autograph letters signed. BHL, 29 March, #308, to Thomas Oldham Barlow, 3 pp., Sept. 1873, concerning etching acids, “unpublished” (£504); #309, to Mrs. George, 4 pp., March 1872, “unpublished” (£420); #311, 44 letters of which 16 are “unpublished,” 1866-81 (£8400). The letter to Barlow was offered at BL, 9 June 1994, #218 (not sold). The letter to Mrs. George was offered BHL, 24 March 2009, #117 (not sold), and was probably among those offered by Roy Davids, Sept. 2003 online cat.—see Blake 37.4 (spring 2004): 132.

Autograph letter signed. BHL, 22 Nov., #141, to the picture dealer Henry Mogford, 23 Oct. 1854, 1 p., illus. (not sold; estimate £300-400).

“The Bellman,” etching. SL, 16 June, #110, 7th st., 1926 printing, illus. (£3500; estimate £800-1200).

“Christmas or Folding the Last Sheep,” etching. See “The Sleeping Shepherd,” below.

“The Early Ploughman,” etching. EB, Dec. 2010, 5th st., illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of $799.99 or “best offer”); same impression?, May, illus. ($450); July, 5th st., illus. ($510); Sept., probably 5th st., illus. ($320). CSK, 19 April, #31, 4th st., trimmed inside the platemark on 3 sides, minor staining and foxing, with “The Willow,” 2nd st., and “The Herdsman’s Cottage,” 2nd st., all 3 framed, “Early Ploughman” illus. (£2000). SL, 16 June, #109, probably 5th st., illus. (£1125). Larkhall Fine Art, June online cat., 8th st., c. 1879-80 printing by A. H. Palmer, pencil signature, illus. (£7500). DW, 21 July, #271, 5th st., pencil signature, “some overall toning,” framed, illus. (not sold; estimate £1000-1500). BHL, 21 Sept., #95, 8th st., trimmed within the platemark, illus. (£475).

“The Herdsman’s Cottage,” etching. Art of the Print, Feb. online cat., 2nd st., illus. (“sold”). EB, March, 2nd st., full leaf from The Portfolio (1872), illus. ($406). See also “The Early Ploughman,” above, and “The Sleeping Shepherd,” below.

“The Morning of Life,” etching. Duke’s auction, Dorchester, 29 Sept., #7, 5th st., illus. (£1500).

“The Skylark,” etching. Hartleys auction, Ilkley, Yorkshire, 22 June, #510, 7th st., illus. (£1100; estimate £400-500).

“The Sleeping Shepherd,” etching. BHL, 12 July, #71, 3rd st., with “The Herdsman’s Cottage,” 2nd st., and “Christmas or Folding the Last Sheep,” 3rd st., “Herdsman’s Cottage” illus. (£7800; estimate £1000-1500).

“The Willow,” etching. DW, 3 March, #682, 2nd st., illus. (£320). BL, 13 Oct., #352, apparently 2nd st., illus. (£440). See also “The Early Ploughman,” above.

Dickens, Pictures from Italy, 1846. EB, May, 1st ed., contemporary half morocco, illus. (£99.95); June, 2nd ed., publisher’s cloth, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of $250); July, same copy of the 2nd ed.?, illus. ($64.87); Aug.-Sept., 1st ed., later morocco with publisher’s cloth bound at the end, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of $300); Nov., 1st ed., publisher’s cloth, illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of $875). BHNY, 18 Oct., #59, 1st ed., publisher’s cloth, morocco clamshell case, illus. ($875).

S. Palmer, English Version of the Eclogues of Virgil. Gallagher Books, Sept. online cat., 1883 large-paper issue, publisher’s vellum worn ($2400). DW, 6 Oct., #581, 2nd ed., 1884, with Palmer, Shorter Poems of John Milton (1889), both with scattered spotting, both with publisher’s cloth very worn (£450); 14 Dec., #495, Eclogues only, 1st ed., small-paper issue, publisher’s cloth very worn (£480).

PARKER, JAMES

“Fainasollis, Borbar & Fingal,” engraving after John J. Barralet, 1809. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., Whatman paper with an 1808 watermark, illus. (£180). Reissue of a pl. 1st published in 1783.

“The Revolution, 1688,” engraving after James Northcote, 1790. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., illus. (£140).

Akenside, Pleasures of Imagination. Ely Books, Jan. online cat., n.d. (1795?), foxed, “full leather,” illus. (£62). Andrew Johnson, Jan. online cat., 1806 ed., pls. foxed, contemporary “leather” very worn, covers detached (£15). MW Books, Jan. online cat., 1806 ed., full calf, illus. ($146.63). John Turton, Jan. online cat., 1810 ed., contemporary calf rebacked, worn (£16).

Arabian Nights, published by Miller, 1802. Richard Sylvanus Williams, Jan. online cat., 5 vols., spotting and browning, full “leather” very worn (£199). Vashon Island Books, Jan. online cat., 5 vols., “Large Paper format,” some foxing, later morocco ($1225). Quaker Hill Books, Jan. online cat., 5 vols., contemporary morocco ($1375).

Armstrong, Art of Preserving Health. MW Books, Jan. online cat., 1795 ed., contemporary calf rebacked, illus. (€195); 1796 ed., modern cloth (€185). Classic Bindings, Jan. online cat., 1806 ed., contemporary morocco, binding illus. (£150).

Book of Common Prayer, 1794. Neil Summersgill, Jan. online cat., contemporary morocco worn (£68). Peter Harrington, Jan. online cat., contemporary morocco worn and repaired, binding illus. (£175). Jarndyce, Jan. online cat., later morocco (£437).

Collins, Poetical Works, published by Cadell and Davies. Brick Row, Jan. online cat., 1797 ed., contemporary calf ($150). A. R. Heath, Jan. online cat., 1797 ed., early calf (£100). Northwood Books, Jan. online cat., 1797 ed., foxed, full calf ($200). Astley Book Farm, Jan. online cat., 1802 ed., “full leather” (£34). Castle Bookshop, Jan. online cat., 1802 ed., full calf (£40). Sterling Books, Jan. online cat., 1802 ed., contemporary morocco, hinges repaired (£65). Macloubooks, Jan. online cat., 1802 ed., some spotting, no description of binding other than very worn (£90).

Collins, Poetical Works, published by Sharpe, 1804. Ziern-Hanon Galleries, Jan. online cat., contemporary calf with “modest wear” ($245).

[Combe], History of the River Thames, 1794-96. Natural History Books, Jan. online cat., 2 vols., “large format copy,” scattered foxing, later three-quarter morocco, cloth slipcases ($8500).

Cowper, Poems. Bohemian Bookworm, Jan. online cat., 1798 ed., 2 vols., “leather” binding ($250). Librairie Picard, Jan. online cat., 1798 ed., 2 vols., sheepskin binding (€200). David Brass, Jan. online cat., 1798 ed., 2 vols., contemporary morocco, illus. ($450). Best Buy Books, Jan. online cat., 1798 ed., 2 vols., contemporary calf worn ($110). Zarak Books, Jan. online cat., 1800 ed., 2 vols., some spotting, full calf (£55).

Falconer, The Shipwreck. MW Books, Jan. online cat., 1800 ed., modern half calf (€85). Rooke Books, Jan. online cat., 1802 ed., “leather” worn, binding illus. (£118.44). Librería de Bilbao, Jan. online cat., 1802 ed., contemporary calf (€150). A. D. Constance, Jan. online cat., 1806 ed., contemporary calf (£40). Clevedon Books, Jan. online cat., 1811 ed., some foxing on pls., half calf (£35). Hollett & Son, Jan. online cat., 1811 ed., slightly later morocco worn (£65).

Fénelon, Adventures of Telemachus, 1795. Crow and Weasel, Jan. online cat., 2 vols., “spotting throughout,” no description of binding other than very worn and falling apart ($200). Haunted Bookshop, Jan. online cat., 2 vols. in 1, no description of binding ($287.50). Better Book Getter, Jan. online cat., apparently 2 vols. in 1, “leather” rebacked and worn ($350). Sanctuary Books, Jan. online cat., apparently 2 vols. in 1, pls. hand colored and foxed, contemporary calf rebacked ($1000).

Flaxman, Iliad and Odyssey designs, 1805. See Flaxman, Iliad designs, under Letterpress Books with Engravings by and after Blake, and Odyssey designs, under Flaxman, above.

Goldsmith, Vicar of Wakefield, 1792. Silvertwigs, Jan. online cat., 2 vols. in 1, pls. slightly foxed, calf with cloth spine worn (£92.55). Classic Bindings, Jan. online cat., 2 vols., contemporary calf, binding illus. (£300).

Green, The Spleen, and Other Poems, 1796. Wyseby House, Jan. online cat., “decorated boards worn” (£30). B & L Rootenberg, Jan. online cat., some spotting, calf rebacked ($150). Rambler Rare Books, Jan. online cat., contemporary calf ($175). James Cummins, Jan. online cat., contemporary calf ($200). D & E Lake, Jan. online cat., contemporary calf ($205).

Hamilton, Memoirs of Count Grammont, n.d. (c. 1794). William Dailey, Jan. online cat., marginal foxing, modern morocco ($300). Shoemaker Booksellers, Jan. online cat., “leather” binding ($410). Minster Gate Bookshop, Jan. online cat., light foxing, later morocco (£275). Brick Row Book Shop, Jan. online cat., moderate foxing, contemporary morocco ($425). Royoung Bookseller, Jan. online cat., light foxing, contemporary morocco rebacked ($550). Phillip Pirages, Jan. online cat., large-paper issue, later morocco ($1700).

Hayley, Essays on Old Maids, 1793. Rothwell & Dunworth, Jan. online cat., vol. 2 only with Parker’s only pl., half calf very worn (£20).

Hume, History of England, Bowyer ed., 1806. Classic Bindings, Jan. online cat., “6” vols. (an error for 5?) in 10, “large paper edition,” contemporary half calf, binding illus. (£3500). Staniland, Jan. online cat., 5 vols. in 10, contemporary morocco (£4750). Kitrenwick Books, Jan. online cat., 5 vols. in 10, some damp staining, contemporary morocco worn, 1 cover detached (£3000).

Johnson, Rasselas, 1796. Dust Jacket, Jan. online cat., “full leather” ($195). Archer’s Books, Jan. online cat., “leather” ($198.48). Windle, Jan. online cat., early calf repaired, worn ($375).

Lodge, Portraits of Illustrious Personages of Great Britain. Bauman Rare Books, Jan. online cat., 1823-34 ed., complete in 12 vols., marginal foxing, contemporary morocco ($4000). Cornell Books, Jan. online cat., 1823-28 ed., vols. 1-6 (parts 1-24), presumably containing Parker’s 4 pls., later cloth worn (£100). Fine Books Co., Jan. online cat., 1826 ed., vol. 5 only, presumably with 3 of Parker’s 4 pls., half “leather” worn ($62.70). Hollett & Son, Jan. online cat., 1834 ed., 12 vols., contemporary morocco, bindings illus. (£1437.50). James Cummins, Jan. online cat., 1835 ed., 12 vols. in 6, contemporary morocco ($2500). K Books, Jan. online cat., 1835 ed., 12 vols., slight foxing, 19th-century morocco (£1500). Tony Hutchinson, Jan. online cat., 1835 ed., vols. 5 and 6 offered individually, presumably containing Parker’s 4 pls., foxed, contemporary calf worn, binding illus. (£12.50 each). Better World Books, Jan. online cat., 1835 ed., 12 vols., foxed, later cloth very worn ($33.01). Zubal Books, Jan. online cat., 1835 ed., 12 vols. in 6, stained, no description of binding other than “most joints severed” ($85.44).

Macneill, Poetical Works, 1801. Barter Books, Jan. online cat., 2 vols., “leather” binding (£110). Old Hall Bookshop, Jan. online cat., 2 vols., contemporary calf (£60).

Marmontel, Belisarius, 1794. Better World Books, Jan. online cat., light foxing, “leather” very worn ($65.45). Rockland Bookman, Jan. online cat., pls. foxed, contemporary morocco ($375).

Pope, Essay on Man, 1796. Martin’s Books, Jan. online cat., stains, “full leather” very worn (£30). Oxfam Broomhill, Jan. online cat., “leather” worn, illus. (£150).

Robertson, History of Scotland during the Reigns of Queen Mary and of King James VI, 1797. Graham York Books, Jan. online cat., 3 vols., contemporary calf (£125).

Rogers, Pleasures of Memory. Nigel Sustins, Jan. online cat., 1801 ed., half “leather” very worn (£30). Barter Books, Jan. online cat., 1801 ed., some browning, later cloth (£57.80). Krown & Spellman, Jan. online cat., 1801 ed., some foxing, later morocco ($100). Hollett & Son, Jan. online cat., 1802 ed., contemporary calf very worn (£30). Barry McKay, Jan. online cat., 1802 ed., contemporary morocco (£35). Ken Spelman, Jan. online cat., 1802 ed., contemporary half calf (£49.50). San Francisco Book Co. (Paris), Jan. online cat., 1803 ed., “leather” binding (€45.50). Cornelius Muhilly, Jan. online cat., 1806 ed., spotting, “leather” very worn ($250).

Shakespeare, Plays, 1807. Antiquariat Aurora, Jan. online cat., 12 vols. complete, contemporary calf worn, binding illus. (€680).

Shakespeare Illustrated, by an Assemblage of Portraits, 1793. W. Hornby, Jan. online cat., 2 vols., 156 of 158 pls. (Parker engraved 5), contemporary calf very worn, covers of vol. 1 missing, covers of vol. 2 detached (£95). Dublin Bookbrowsers, Jan. online cat., c. 130 pls. in 1 vol., light foxing, half calf (€175).

Somerville, The Chase, 1800. BritoBooks, Jan. online cat., “minimal foxing, … leather boards” worn (£59.99). Llibreria Antiquària Farré, Jan. online cat., recent half calf (€210).

Thomson, The Seasons, 1793. John Turton, Jan. online cat., later calf worn (£38). Book Shop (Iowa City), Jan. online cat., “leather” worn ($59.95). James Fenning, Jan. online cat., light foxing, contemporary morocco (£185).

RICHMOND, GEORGE

A folio of drawings and prints, including A Sheet of Head Studies. BHL, 21 June, #278, quantity not stated, head studies illus. (not sold; estimate £600-800).

Five studies, including 2 pencil sketches of oaks, 17.7 x 10.7 cm. and 12.0 x 17.3 cm., and 3 watercolor landscapes in 1 frame. BHL, 21 June, #280, illus. (£1020).

Three drawings of Otford Castle and scenes near Panton, Norfolk. Pencil, 12.0 x 19.6 cm., 8.8 x 19.7 cm., and 12.4 x 19.6 cm., each signed with initials, 1 dated 1848 and 1 dated 1849. BHL, 21 June, #275, illus. (not sold; estimate £600-800).

Three drawings, Study of a Man’s Right Leg, pen and ink on wove paper, leaf 17.5 x 7.0 cm.; Studies of a Reaper Sharpening a Scythe, watercolor, 12.1 x 17.2 cm.; Otford, Kent, wash, 14.6 x 22.2 cm. SNY, 25 Jan., #153, from the collection of Charles Ryskamp, all 3 illus. online ($8125).

Dawn. Oil on panel, 35.0 x 40.7 cm. CSK, 16 March, #152, illus. (£2125). See illus. 9.

9. George Richmond. Dawn. Oil on panel, 35.0 x 40.7 cm. … [+]

The Entombment. Oil, 40.0 x 55.0 cm. BHL, 21 June, #276, verso label inscribed “Painted in Florence, 1840,” illus. (not sold; estimate £2000-3000). Abbott and Holder, Aug. cat. 410, #14 (£4000).

Head of a Man. Pen and ink, 24.5 x 17.5 cm. BHL, 21 June, #277, illus. (£600).

Portrait of a Lady Holding a Rosary. Charcoal and oil, 54.0 x 34.5 cm. BHL, 21 June, #281, illus. (£1560). The figure’s diaphanous gown suggests an early date, c. 1830-40.

The Sower. Pencil, pen and ink, gray wash, 35.3 x 18.4 cm., signed and dated Feb. 1830. CL, 5 July, #111, illus. (£34,850; estimate £7000-10,000). Previously sold CL, 20 Nov. 1984, #117, illus. (£7020).

Study of a Dancing Nude. Pencil, 40.5 x 24.0 cm., possibly dating from the 1830s. BHL, 21 June, #279, “indistinctly inscribed,” illus. (not sold; estimate £400-600).

Study of a Man, attributed to Richmond. Pen and ink, 9.0 x 8.0 cm. with a rounded top. EB, Jan.-Feb., illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of £200 or “best offer”). Awkward and unpleasant, but the attribution is probably correct. Previously offered EB, Dec. 2010, at the same price.

Study of a Man Looking Down. Pen and ink, 18.2 x 14.0 cm. W.S Fine Art/Andrew Wyld, June cat., #46, illus. (£2500).

View across a Wooded Valley. Watercolor, 19.2 x 39.4 cm. W.S Fine Art/Andrew Wyld, June cat., #45, illus. (£7500; previously offered at the same price, July 2008 cat., #40, illus.).

Letters by Richmond. See Palmer, six letters, above.

ROMNEY, GEORGE

Three drawings on 2 leaves, Studies of a Seated Lady, pen and ink (recto), pencil (verso), leaf 31.2 x 24.1 cm., and Seated Woman, pen and ink, size not recorded. SNY, 25 Jan., #242, from the collection of Charles Ryskamp, all 3 illus. ($12,500).

Descent from the Cross. Pencil, 16.4 x 19.6 cm., datable to c. 1792-93. Guy Peppiatt/Stephen Ongpin, Nov. “winter” cat., #6, illus. (£1800).

King Lear, Edgar, and the Fool. Pencil, 45.0 x 41.0 cm. BHL, 13 July, #1, illus. (£30,000; estimate £4000-6000).

Miss Ann Parry, Seated. Pencil, 23.5 x 17.6 cm. W.S Fine Art/Andrew Wyld, June cat., #11, illus. (£7500). Previously offered Agnew’s, June 2002 cat., #7, illus. (£15,000).

Portrait of Mr. William Hayley. Oil, 77.5 x 63.5 cm., datable to c. 1778. SNY, 27 Jan., #354, illus. (not sold; estimate $90,000-120,000). Previously sold CL, 28 Nov. 1969, #198 (price not recorded), and SNY, 23 Jan. 2003, #8, illus. ($90,000).

The Rev. William Atkinson (1724-1764) Wearing a Broad-Brimmed Hat. Pencil, 15.2 x 18.4 cm., inscribed on the back “G Romney.” W.S Fine Art/Andrew Wyld, June cat., #10, illus. (£15,000).

Sketch of a Lady. Pencil, 11.0 x 8.5 cm. BHO, 16 Nov., #216, illus. (£125).

Studies of Figures Arranged in Friezes. Pen and ink with wash, 10.6 x 18.7 cm., datable to c. 1776-77. Lowell Libson, May online cat., illus. (not priced).

Study of a Female Figure. Pen and ink, black wash, 25.4 x 19.7 cm. CSK, 8 Dec., #363, illus. (£5000).

Study of a Muse. Pen and ink, 10.2 x 7.6 cm. Waddington’s auction, Toronto, 13 Dec., #46, illus. ($1020 Canadian).

Study of Emma, Lady Hamilton, as Miranda. Oil, 46.0 x 41.5 cm. BHL, 7 Dec., #5, illus. (not sold; estimate £25,000-30,000). Probably 1 of Romney’s preparatory studies for his Boydell Shakespeare painting of The Tempest, act 1, scene 1.

Study of the Warren Family. Pencil, 13.5 x 23.0 cm. SL, 8 July, #301, with Romney, Study of a Death-Bed Composition, Traditionally Identified as the Death of Cordelia, and 3 drawings by other artists, illus. (not sold; estimate £3000-5000).

Titania and Her Attendants. Oil, 119.4 x 149.9 cm.; datable to c. 1792. Lowell Libson, May cat. devoted to this single work, illus. (not priced). Libson’s online cat. of late May states that this work was sold to a “Private Collection, UK.” Previously sold SL, 23 Nov. 2006, #68, titled Titania’s Attendants Chasing Bats, illus. (£38,400); offered in Libson’s April 2007 cat., #9, illus. (not priced), and Jan. 2009 cat., pp. 54-57, illus. (price on request).

Two Figures in a Lazaretto. Pen and brown ink, 11.4 x 19.0 cm. CSK, 8 Dec., #364, illus. (£1250).

“Il Penseroso L’ Allegro,” mezzotint by George Keating, 1799. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., 2nd st., light staining, illus. (£360). The 1st st. is dated 1798 in the imprint.

Portrait of Romney, etching/engraving of his self-portrait now in the National Portrait Gallery, London. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., proof before all letters, inscribed in pencil in the lower margin, “George Romney the Portrait Painter Self Portrait,” image 18.4 x 14.5 cm., leaf of wove paper without watermark trimmed within the platemark to 23.8 x 18.2 cm., “slightly soiled, glued to card,” illus. (£230; acquired by Windle for Essick). For discussion, see the introductory essay to this sales review and Mark Crosby’s essay forthcoming in Blake.

Hayley, Life of Romney, 1809. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., 1 pl. only, “Newton with the Prism,” engraved by Robert Meadows, illus. (£90). See also Hayley, Life of Romney, under Letterpress Books with Engravings by and after Blake, above.

Hayley, Memoirs, 1823. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., frontispiece to vol. 2 only, Romney’s portrait of Hayley with his son Thomas, engraved by Caroline Watson, illus. (£140).

STOTHARD, THOMAS

Books with illus. by Stothard are listed only for eds. not recorded in the standard reference works, Coxhead and Bennett.

Four drawings for the Novelist’s Magazine. Monochrome wash, each about 11.5 x 7.0 cm., datable to 1784-85. BL, 27 Oct., #520, 2 for Arabian Nights; #521, 1 for The History of Betsy Thoughtless and 1 for The History of Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy, all illus. (£1300 for lot 520, £1200 for lot 521).

Two drawings, Christian Making His Escape with Hopeful from the Dungeon of Doubting Castle and Giant Despair, wash, 9.0 x 9.9 cm., signed, and Design for a Monument to Mariamne [sic] Johnes, wash, 14.2 x 11.6 cm. SNY, 25 Jan., #101, from the collection of Charles Ryskamp, with a drawing by Richard Westall, all illus. (not sold; estimate $6000-9000). SH, 25 June, #336, Design for a Monument, illus. ($1200); #337, Christian Making His Escape, illus. ($2300).

Cartouche Enclosing a Young Couple at Harvest Time. Pen and ink, gray washes, 8.9 x 6.4 cm. Abbott and Holder, Nov. online cat. 412, #114 (£225).

Don Quixote at the Ball, attributed to Stothard. Oil, 15.0 x 20.0 cm. BHO, 7 Sept., #194, illus. (not sold; estimate £500-800).

An Elegant Assembly Studying a Scroll. Pen and ink, 7.6 x 5.1 cm. Abbott and Holder, Nov. online cat. 412, #115 (£125).

Emily Davies. Watercolor, 10.2 x 7.6 cm. Abbott and Holder, May online cat. 408, #85, “a sweet little girl sitting for her portrait” (£225).

Helen of Whitby. Oil, 91.4 x 63.5 cm. CSK, 13 Dec., #389, illus. (£1000). The attribution to Stothard is questionable.

Henry and Emma. Gray wash, 10.2 x 7.6 cm. Abbott and Holder, May online cat. 408, #84 (£325). An illus. to Matthew Prior’s poem, “Henry and Emma,” engraved by John Walker and published in Lady’s Poetical Magazine, 1781.

The Rival Brothers. Monochrome wash, no size given but probably about 12.0 x 7.0 cm. EB, Feb., with “gift inscription” signed by Stothard and dated 16 Sept. 1829, illus. (no bids on a required minimum bid of $2500); July (same minimum bid and result); Oct. (no bids on a required minimum bid of £1250). This illus. to Mary Leapor’s poem, “The Rival Brothers,” was engraved by William Angus and published in Lady’s Poetical Magazine, 1782. Previously offered EB, March-April 2010, the date recorded as “15 Sept. 1829” and offered at the “buy it now” price of $8500 (not sold).

Simon, attributed to Stothard. Watercolor, 7.2 x 12.8 cm., datable to 1790-91. EB, April, titled “Saint Barnabas,” framed, illus. (£295). Possibly a skillful copy after Louis Schiavonetti’s engraving of the design, published by W. N. Gardiner and J. Good in 1791 as part of a group of “sacred subjects “ (Coxhead 180). This watercolor is the same size as the engraving and its coloring is almost identical to the hand-tinted issue of the pl.

A Snake Charmer. Watercolor, 22.0 x 17.0 cm., signed “T Stothard del.” BHL, 7 Dec., #71, illus. (not sold; estimate £400-600).

“Caroline de Lichtfield,” a pair of pls. illustrating Isabelle de Montolieu’s novel, engraved by John Ogborne and Joseph Strutt. Keys auction, Aylsham, Norfolk, 6 May, #55, titled “Caroline & Lindorf” and “Caroline & Walstien,” imprints (and hence dates) trimmed off, illus. (£110).

R. Collins, trade card for, engraved by John Neagle, n.d. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., laid India, illus. (£220).

“The Innocent Stratagem” and “The Power of Innocence,” 2 pls. from a suite of 4 illustrating Frances Burney, Cecilia, engraved by Joseph Strutt, 1792. Grosvenor Prints, Sept. online cat., marginal “damage,” illus. (£350). See also “The Power of Innocence,” below.

“The Lost Apple,” lithograph. Campbell Fine Art, Nov. online cat., 1st printing on original mount with aquatint border, illus. (£1450). This or a very similar impression offered by Campbell Fine Art, spring 2000 cat. 8, #74 (£1450), and Nov. 2001 cat. 9, #9 (£1100).

“Pilgrimage to Canterbury,” engraved by Schiavonetti and Heath, 1817. JS Auctions, Oxfordshire, 26 March, #396, illus. (£115).

“The Power of Innocence,” engraved by Antonio Suntach, 1794. EB, Jan., illus. (offered at the “buy it now” price of €250). Probably copied from Strutt’s engraving of 1792 (see “The Innocent Stratagem,” above).

“Princess Catherine of France Presented to Henry V of England,” mezzotint by Anthony Cardon, 1797. Keys auction, Aylsham, 9 Sept., #36, illus. (£30).

“The Sorrows of Lady Alice,” engraved by Henry Richter, 1797. Grosvenor Prints, April online cat., color printed, foxed, illus. (£240).

“The Wellington Shield,” etched by Stothard after his own design. Campbell Fine Art, Aug. online cat., “complete set of 6 original etchings” (but apparently lacking the outline etching of the entire shield), “uncut sheets with wide margins,” illus. (“sold”). Probably the set sold Cheffins auction, Cambridge, 22 March 2007, #247 (£4400; estimate £100-200).

T. Bowen, Historical Account of … Bethlem Hospital, 1783. EB, July-Aug., frontispiece only, a drawing by Stothard, engraved by William Sharp, of Caius Cibber’s statues over the main gate to Bedlam, slight marginal stains, illus. (£14.95). Not in Bennett or Coxhead. For a discussion of the possible influence of these statues on Blake and an illus. of this print, see Jenijoy La Belle, “Blake’s Bald Nudes,” Blake 24.2 (fall 1990): 52-58.

Appendix: New Information on Blake’s Engravings

Listed below are substantive additions or corrections to Essick, William Blake’s Commercial Book Illustrations (1991).

Pp. 39-40, Fenning and Collyer, A New System of Geography, 1785-86, 1787. Copies of the 1785-86 issue in the Essick collection and in the Morris Miller Library, University of Tasmania, Hobart, include a previously unrecorded 2nd st. of pl. 1 in which the imprint is dated “July 16.^th 1785” followed by a semi-colon. [10] In the 1st st. (British Library), the date is “June 6.^th 1784” followed by a semi-colon. In the 3rd (previously 2nd) and final st., the imprint is dated “July 16.^th 1787” followed by a comma. The attribution of this unsigned pl. to Blake as the engraver and Stothard as the designer is based only on a pencil inscription (by Robert Balmanno?) on a proof of the central design in the British Museum. Pl. 2 in the Essick copy of the 1785-86 issue is in the 2nd st., with a 1787 imprint, previously recorded only in copies of the 1787 issue.
BB #455A lists only the British Library (designated “BM”) copy of the 1785-86 issue; copies of the 1787 issue are in the Explorers Club, New York (BB #455B), and in the University of Reading Library (BBS 213). As CB fig. 57 shows, Blake’s pl. 1 in the British Library copy is torn and abraded lower left. The copy of the 1785-86 issue in the Morris Miller Library is badly damaged by water; many leaves are stuck together and only part of Blake’s pl. 2 is visible. The University of Minnesota online library cat. does not list the 1787 issue located there by BBS 213. According to its online cat., a copy of the 1787 issue is in the Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, Minnesota. For an illus. of and comments on Blake’s pl. 2, see Blake 36.4 (spring 2003): 124. A complete reproduction of the British Library copy of the 1785-86 issue is available on Eighteenth Century Collections Online <http://find.galegroup.com/ecco>.

Pp. 41-42, Lavater, Essays on Physiognomy. In the original issue of the work in parts, Blake’s pl. 1 was included in part 5, dated July 1788 on the printed back wrapper. The pl. is listed on the front wrapper as “7. aged figures, gardening.” Blake’s pl. 2 was issued in part 3, dated May 1788, and is listed on the front wrapper as “7. democritus, finished.”

Pp. 45-49, Darwin, Botanic Garden, 1st ed. of Part 1, 1791. For a copy that includes Blake’s pl. 6 of 1795, see the final entry on Darwin under Letterpress Books with Engravings by and after Blake, above.

P. 101, Flaxman, Compositions from the Works Days and Theogony of Hesiod, 1817. The complete set of prepublication proofs at the Bodleian Library, unseen at the time of writing, has now been listed on the Bodleian’s online cat. (<http://solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk>, accessed 1 Nov. 2011). These are described as “37 proofs, of which 27 are before letters,” call number Arch. AA b.15, Aleph system number 013996444.

Corrigendum

In my 2010 review I noted “a Small Etching” attributed to Blake, “representing Sampson destroying the Lion,” offered by A. E. Evans and Son in an 1845 cat. (Blake 44.4 [spring 2011]: 129). This is almost certainly the impression of “Samson and the Lion,” an etching by Welby Sherman, inscribed “WS / 1827” and acquired by the British Museum in 1847, accession no. 1847,0318.122. According to Campbell Dodgson, “The Engravings of George Richmond, R.A., and Welby Sherman,” Print Collector’s Quarterly 17.4 (Oct. 1930): 361, the museum’s impression was “bought as ‘an etching by Blake.’” Dodgson was keeper of prints and drawings at the British Museum, 1912-32.