Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
William Blake. Songs of Innocence (Association Copy). The Trianon Press, London, 1954.
Price: US$764.99 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: LIMITED EDITION, 802/1600. This is a True FACSIMILE edition, designed with fine craftsmanship and a sharp eye for detail, to produce a book as close as possible to the c. 1790 book printed by Blake. ASSOCIATION COPY: This original book was owned by L.J. Rosenwald, who SIGNED this copy with a gift inscription. ** Volume is quarter-bound in leather with gilt lettering on spine, and features matching slipcase with leather edges along opening. Book displays minor overall aging, with some pages detached inside. Covers exhibit minimal edge toning, and are remarkably well preserved overall. Spine title piece is dry and cracked, yet shoulders are unaffected. Binding is a bit shaken. Many pages are detached, including title page. All illustration plates are well preserved and vibrant. Interior shows little to no age-toning. Inside pages are free of writing and intentional marks. Textblock edges have gilt along head. Slipcase shows some rubbing along head and foot edges, as well as scuffs to leather along edges of opening. ** Unpaginated. Approx. 68 pages. 5.25 x 9 inches. ** Volume is quarter-bound in leather, with gilt lettering on spine, and features matching slipcase. ** Illuminated pages are reproductions of Blake's original work, with his poetry. 31 collotype plates were imprinted on a paper especially made to match Blake's paper, including his watermark monogram on each page. ** William Blake's illustrated collection of poems shows his exceptional gifts not only as a poet but also as an illustrator, offering insight to the writing with his enigmatic, intriguing visual art. Songs of Innocence depicts our childhood condition, characterized by innocence and free of original sin, yet not immune to the deception and corruption of the fallen world and its institutions. ** William Blake (1757-1827)was an English poet, painter, and print maker. Although largely unrecognized in his lifetime, Blake is now considered a figure of key importance not only in art and literature but also in philosophy, as his works are layered with mystical or deeper meanings. The expressiveness and creativity of his works are recognized as part of both the Romantic and pre-Romantic movements. ** EDITION POINTS: this Limited Edition is hand numbered as No. 802 of 1600 printed. Books numbered 800 to 1600 were distributed exclusively in the United States. This is a authentic Facsimile reproduced from the original c. 1790 book held by the Rosenwald Collection. ** PROVENANCE: Gift inscription is SIGNED by Lessing J. Rosenwald (1891-1979), an American businessman, a collector of rare books and art, a chess patron, and a philanthropist. He owned the original book that we reproduced for this limited edition, making this a very special Association Copy. ** Postage for oversized and international shipping will be calculated by size and weight. AbeBooks shipping quotes are ESTIMATES only.
Seller: Panoply Books, Lambertville, NJ, U.S.A.
Price: US$6250.00 + shipping
Description: Quarter tan publisher's calf (5-1/4" x 8-1/2") housed in a slipcase. Copy #823 of 1626 of this color facsimile of Blake's masterpiece, the original donated to the Library of Congress by Lessing Rosenwald who has INSCRIBED this copy on the front endpaper to Robert Oppenheimer on 22 February 1955. Rosenwald was the pre-eminent collector of Blake and donated his collection to the Library of Congress. Before that he had donated his collection of books on the history of science to Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, headed by Oppenheimer (1947-1966). In a letter [not included here] bookseller Jake Zeitlin describes the process of acquiring the collection which formed the foundation of the History of Science Library at Princeton. Among numerous titles and offices held by Lessing Rosenwald was the wartime (WWII) president of Princetons Institute of Advanced Study which produced essential research and technology for the Manhattan Project. Exceptional Association! Minor rubbing to spine tips. Near Fine in a Near Fine slipcase
Seller: Charles Agvent, est. 1987, ABAA, ILAB, Fleetwood, PA, U.S.A.