Little Tom the Sailor. A Facsimile of Blake's Design.
1917. London: Richard C. Jackson, 1917.
4to, (2, half-title), frontispiece (Blake portrait), (16). Very good with slight wear to board covers and corners. The dedicatee's copy, signed Mackenzie Bell 29th July 1920.
§ A facsimile produced for the "William Blake Society of Arts and Letters" in a limited edition of 100 copies (plus 10 proofs), by Richard C. Jackson, to commemorate the 160th anniversary of Blake's birth. The facsimile claims to be the first edition of "Little Tom" in moveable type, and reproduces Blake's two main designs in different colours - Little Tom on the boat in blue, and with his mother in a rather pallid yellow. The title is in red and black. The book is printed on "Queen of Scots" hand-made paper, and sewn into quarter cream buckram bound gray paper covered boards, with a decorated and printed label in buckram mounted to the cover. Jackson was the founder of the Blake Society of Arts and Letters in 1901, and still President in 1917. The edition has a dedication page to Mackenzie Bell (a poet and past Vice-President of the Society) and this was apparently his own copy, being signed by him on the front end paper. Bentley, BB, 470 E . Bentley refers to Jackson as being "mendacious", but gives no reason. Jackson does however defame and possibly libel Gilchrist in the colophon at the end of this facsimile so this is perhaps symptomatic. However the facsimile is certainly an impressive and attractive one. Item #125121
Price: $675.00