Illustrations of the Book of Job. Invented & Engraved by William Blake
Published by Published by the Author, London, 1826
- First Edition
- Used
Seller: Burnside Rare Books, ABAA, Portland, OR, U.S.A.Burnside Rare Books, ABAA
AbeBooks seller since September 3, 2014
Condition: Used - Near fine
£ 52,325.48
Quantity:Â 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
First edition of Blake's visionary interpretation of the first of the Poetic Books in the Old Testament. Folio. Engraved title and 21 engravings on drawing paper. Original buff paste board covers with publisher's printed label over quarter brown cloth; cloth perished at spine, rebacked. A beautiful copy retaining the original boards, housed in a custom clamshell case with spine tooled in gilt. The first edition was printed in a run of 315 copies and issued in three versions: 150 copies on laid India with the word "Proof" printed in the bottom margin of plates, 65 copies on French paper with "Proof", and 100 on Whatman paper with the word "Proof" removed from the copper plates but still faintly visible in some pulls. This copy is from the latter, which Keynes calls the Ordinary Issue. Two plates with watermark of "J Whatman Turkey Mill 1825" and one watermarked "J Whatman 1825," Plate No. 1 incorrectly dated "1828". Rubbing to covers, light soiling, light offsetting, and subtle repairs to end sheets. Small chip to corner margin of Plate No. 5, far from the engraving. Provenance: armorial bookplate of Frederick Pollock to front pastedown, additional mounted printed note from antiquarian bookseller, "This book was purchased in 1941 from London whilst the great battle for civilization was in progress. -Francis Edward Ltd." An impressive production hailed by many to be Blake's greatest masterpiece, completed just before the end of his life. "The story which Blake called 'Job's Captivity' fascinated him all his life. He alluded to it throughout his drawings and writings, made a large separate print of Job in 1793, and then a series of twenty-one designs for his faithful patron, Thomas Butts, about 1810" (Bentley). Blake took the plates from Butts' earlier commissions and began work on a second set for John Linnell, his friend and fellow artist, in 1821. Hoping to earn his impoverished, aging friend much needed income, Linnell completely backed the project monetarily while Blake went to task engraving. Only 20 of the 315 sets were sold during Blake's lifetime mostly to members of his inner circle marking this a commercial failure. However the work was widely recognized as an artistic success amongst the nobility and upper gentry with copies purchased for the King's Library and The Royal Academy. Like many artists, Blake did not receive proper recognition until after his death. Admired by John Ruskin, he writes highly of the artist in his 1857 text The Elements of Drawing that, "The Book of Job [.] is of the highest rank in certain characters of imagination and expression; in the mode of obtaining certain effects of light it will also prove a very useful example to you. In expressing conditions of glaring and flickering light, Blake is greater than Rembrandt." Bentley 421A, Keynes 55 vi, Ray 8.…
Seller Inventory # 140948122
Bibliographic details
- Title
- Illustrations of the Book of Job. Invented & Engraved by William Blake
- Author
- Blake, William
- Publisher
- Published by the Author, London
- Publication year
- 1826
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition.
- Seller catalogs
- Art, Illustrated Books, Religion
Burnside Rare Books, ABAA
Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 0.00 | £ 24.65 |
Payment methods
Store description
We're a general antiquarian bookshop in Portland, Oregon, welcoming visitors by appointment. We specialize in literature, modern first editions and rare nonfiction. Member ABAA, ILAB.
Specialty
General Rare, Signed, Non-fiction, 19-20th Century British and American Literature, Economics, First Editions, Limited EditionsAssociation member
Seller's business information
Burnside Rare Books, ABAA
OR, U.S.A.
Terms of sale
We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described on the Abebooks web sites. If you're dissatisfied with your purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery date. If you've changed your mind about a book that you've ordered, please use the Ask bookseller a question link to contact us and we'll respond within 2 business days.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Burnside Rare Books, ABAA, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.