Blake, Illustrations of the Book of Job, 1825

BLAKE, WILLIAM

Illustrations of the Book f Job. Invented and engraved by William Blake. Published as the Act Directs...by William Blake, 8 March 1825 [1826]

folio, ONE OF 215 "PROOF" COPIES, ONE OF 150 COPIES ON INDIA PAPER (watermarked "J WHATMAN | TURKEYMILL | 1825"), engraved pictorial title and 21 plates designed and engraved by Blake, each plate marked "Proof", second plate (Job and his family praising God) misdated "1828", brown morocco gilt, foxing and browning throughout, boards with scratching, spine sunned, bumped

BLAKE'S RENOWNED ENGRAVINGS FOR THE BOOK OF JOB.

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

LITERATURE:

Bentley 421

PROVENANCE:

Sir David Lionel Salomons Bt., Broomhill, Tunbridge Wells, his bookplate.

Sir David (1851-1925) was a British barrister and scientific author. His chief interests involved electric experiments and he invented a electric light signalling system and developed one of the first electric cooking devices and the first electric alarm.  In 1894 he became Mayor of Tunbridge Wells. A life-long horologist, Sir David also amassed the world's largest private collects ion of Breguet watches.

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