Description
For sale: a Rare and Exceptional facsimile edition, first printing hardcover copy of Songs of Experience by William Blake. Special Edition described, 1927 Minton, Balch and Company. No dust jacket. This rare edition includes 27 color plates!
The exterior of the book is in Very Good condition with clean, bright boards, strong title gilt on the front decorative border and the worn spine. The spine shows evidence of being reattached with a 1″ gap that nearly misses the AK of Blake’s name and both spine ends rubbed bare. The spine was susceptible to heavy wear and becoming detached. Most copies are now found rebound. Also with, clean page blocks, tight binding, mild spine tilt, lightly rolled spine ends, mild edge wear, and rounded and rubbed corners.
The interior of the book is also in Near Fine condition with clean, strong, toned pages and lightly foxed end paper.s and paste downs. The illustrations are unmarked and lightly faded. No other marks, inscriptions, or other signs of ownership inside, making it an excellent addition to any collection.
No dust jacket.
Originally published in 1794, Songs of Experience built upon the work that Blake had done in “Songs of Innocence”, in which he engraved copperplates in relief and then painted the plates by hand. This book is of one of Blake’s most beautiful and popular works of a collection of poems, printed from a copy housed at the British Museum.
Tall, slender volume ships promptly in a secure mailer with the book wrapped in both craft paper and multiple layers of bubble wrap.
