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Illustrations of the Book of Job.
Blake, William.

London: [plates dated] 1825 [but published 1826]. Folio, 320 x 254 mm, engraved title and 21 plates. Proofs on India paper mounted on handmade paper, some leaves watermarked J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1825. Light foxing as always, a brilliant set; preserved in a red cloth box, morocco label titled in gilt. First edition, limited to 150 proof sets (65 sets were also printed on French paper, and 100 sets on drawing paper with the word ‘proof’removed). This set was last sold by Sessler’s in Philadelphia in 1957, with their description still present: “In perfect and brilliant condition”. It still is one of the finest set of the proofs I have ever seen, and far outshines the other two original printings and the later re-issue. The India paper set is the best printing of these famous plates which comprise Blake’s major single achievement as a printmaker after the illuminated books. Illustrations of the Book of Job was Blake’s last completed prophetic book: the text, a series of biblical quotations, is above and below each image. “It was produced while Blake was still working on Jerusalem, his most obscure book; yet the illustrations are Blake’s most lucid; and they are the supreme example of his reading the Bible in its spiritual sense” (S. Foster Damon, A Blake Dictionary, p. 217). “The modest size of the central panels does not prevent them from ranking with the supreme masterpieces of graphic art” (Ray, Illustrator and the Book in England #8). Provenance: private collection New York since 1957. (Item ID: 10983)

$87,500.00