Poems from William Blake’s Songs of Innocence. Drawings by Maurice Sendak.
London: Bodley Head, 1967.
Small 8vo, 24 pp. with 9 sepia illustrations to the text by Maurice Sendak. Illustrated card wrappers, slight age-toning, damage to lower cover repaired.
§ First and only edition, limited to 275 copies printed as a gift from the publishers. One of Sendak’s rarest and most sought-after books. Bentley, BBS, p.161. During a promotional tour for the British publication of Where the Wild Things Are in 1967, Sendak suffered a major heart attack. He attributed his survival to the quick reactions of those around him, in particular his editor Judy Taylor. In thanks, he prepared the drawings for this little book and had it privately printed at the Stellar Press and Bodley Head for distribution among friends. None were offered for sale. Item #127058
Price: $4,950.00