WILLIAM BLAKE'S WATER-COLOUR DESIGNS FOR THE POEMS OF THOMAS GRAY.
London: The Trianon Press for the William Blake Trust, 1972.
Of a total edition of 518, this copy J of 18 copies lettered A to R hors commerce. Three volumes folio (17"). Printed on Arches pure rag paper, the designs reproduced in striking hand-stenciled collotype, the text separately printed and mounted on the pages within the designs. Bound in quarter golden morocco with gilt titles and marbled boards, housed in similar morocco-edged slipcases. Moderate spotting to the spines, else fine. Magnificent books. Item #23851
"The water-colour designs were reproduced by the collotype and hand-stencil process... The texts of Gray's poems were printed on pure rag laid paper from copperplates, using three additional printings to reproduce Blake's pencil crosses and to obtain the tone of the paper. This first publication of the Water-colour Designs was made possible by Mr. Paul Mellon who allowed the original designs to the sent to France for reproduction." (Colophon).
Price: $5,000.00