1911 Rare Book - Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience by William Blake.
(Description)
Author: William Blake
Title: Songs of Innocence & Songs of Experience.
Language: Text in English.
Publisher: London, Arthur L. Humphreys, 1911. First thus.
Size: 6" X 4.5"
Pages: viii-63 pages.
Binding: Exquisite and near fine half-morocco leather binding by Zaehnsdorf for C. Scribner's Sons, New York (hinges fine, overall slightly scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. Top edge gilt.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight, and clean - as shown, name of a previous owner on the second blank page upper margin - as shown).
Illustrations: Complete with all the nice miniature sepia pastedown illustrations.
The book: A beautifully illustrated edition bound in morocco of Songs of Innocence and of Experience -- a collection of illustrated poems by William Blake. It appeared in two phases: a few first copies were printed and illuminated by Blake himself in 1789; five years later, he bound these poems with a set of new poems in a volume titled Songs of Innocence and of Experience Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul.
The author: William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognized during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. His prophetic works are said to form what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the English language. His visual artistry led one contemporary art critic to proclaim him far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced.