BLAIR, Robert (William Blake). The Grave, A Poem. (1808 - FIRST EDITION)

AUTHOR: BLAIR, Robert (William Blake). 

TITLE: The Grave, A Poem.

PUBLISHER: London, T. Bensley, 1808.

DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION. 1 vol., folio, 13-7/8" x 11-3/8", Frontispiece portrait, additional engraved title-page and 11 drawings by Blake, etched by Louis Schiavonetti, includes list of subscribers, a poem "To the Queen" by Blake, and advertisement referencing Henry Fuseli's favorable comments, complete, bound in early 1/2 tan calf, contemporary spine laid down, marbled pastedowns and endpapers, with a slip of paper (probably cut from an earlier binding of this copy) mounted on the verso of the front free endpaper and inscribed in ink "Mr. Cromek (the publisher) begs Mr. Bromley's acceptance of this Book. July 20. 1808".

CONDITION: Inner and outer hinges fine, head and foot of spine fine, an unusually clean copy, free of the typical foxing and offsetting, overall a VERY GOOD copy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: From the collection of Douglas Cleverdon (1903 - 1987) who was an English radio producer and bookseller - with his bookplate to the front pastedown.

One of about 590 copies published by subscription. In October 1805, Blake was commissioned by the publisher Cromek to prepare 40 drawings for the poem. Disagreements between Blake and Comek about the artistic direction led to hiring Schiavonetti for the engraving. Cromek included a portrait of Blake as a frontispiece and promoted the book aggressively and the illustrations to The Grave became Blake's best known work through much of the nineteenth century.

This exact copy appeared in Maggs Catalogue 1286 (London, March 2000) as item #39 Blair, The Grave (1808), and priced at $5,775.