BLAKE'S EDITION OF NIGHT THOUGHTS. BLAKE, WILLIAM, illustrator, and EDWARD YOUNG. The Complaint ...

BLAKE'S EDITION OF NIGHT THOUGHTS. BLAKE, WILLIAM, illustrator, and EDWARD YOUNG. The Complaint and the Consolation; or, Night Thoughts. London: Printed by R. Noble for R. Edwards, 1797. Large 4to (425 x 320 mm). viii, [1], 95, [2] pp. With 43 full-page engravings by Blake after his own design surrounding the letterpress text. 19th-century black pebble-grain morocco, top edge gilt, rebacked. Crease at upper right corner of first few leaves (through p 2), one leaf (p 71) with 122mm tear at center right margin, repaired; p 73 with 20 mm tear at center right margin, repaired, Explanation leaf cut down and mounted at rear, with repaired tears at center and upper right, minor soiling and offsetting throughout. FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITION, a 'tall' copy. Edward Young originally published his long poem, 'The Complaint and the Consolation...' (now better known as just 'Night Thoughts') between 1742-45. The poem was enormously well received in its day and Young celebrated as one of the greatest poets of his age. In 1794 or 1795, publisher Richard Edwards commissioned William Blake to illustrate a new edition, Blake's largest commercial endeavor ever. The artist created 537 watercolor designs illustrating the poem's nine sections and began the engraving process in spring of 1796. The present volume, the first of four projected, appeared in 1797, but fared poorly, leading Edwards to close his publishing business and abandon the project. Today, Young has all but fallen into obscurity, and is remembered only in conjunction with this edition. Bentley, Blake Books, 515; Easson and Essick, William Blake Book Illustrator, vol 1, IV; Bindman, Complete Graphic Works of Blake, 357-379; Ray, The Illustrator and the Book in England, 3. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing