Illustrations of The Book of Job . London: Published as the Act directs March 8: 1825. by William Blake N. 3 Fountain Court Strand, [1825-26].

BLAKE, William (1757-1827) Illustrations of The Book of Job. London: Published as the Act directs March 8: 1825. by William Blake N. 3 Fountain Court Strand, [1825-26]. A fine, uniform set from the earliest publication of the first edition, printing sharply and silvery, with strong contrasts. Blake complete a set of 21 watercolours to illustrate Job for Thomas Butts in 1820 (not in the Morgan Library) and the publisher John Linnell ordered a second set the following year, also commissioning Blake in 1823 to engrave the work (the plates are now in the British Museum). The book was completed and officially published on 8 March 1825, although the plates were not approved until early in 1826. There were another 65 sets printed on French paper with the word ‘proof’, and a further 100 on Whatman paper with the word proof erased, all as part of the first edition, a posthumous second edition was published by John Linnell in 1874. Bentley Blake Books 421A; Bentley Biography, pp. 394-400; Keynes 55; Ray English 313; Binyon 105-126; Essick 625-646. Folio broadsheets (c.434 x 335mm sheets; plates c.220 x 170mm). Engraved title and 21 plates, on India appliqué paper on wove paper, some watermarked Whatman / Turkey Mill 1825, the full sheets, some with deckle edges, with ‘proof’ on each, fine impressions. (Without the publication announcement and blue cloth-covered folder, pale, occasional marginal spotting). Each plate mounted, framed and glazed.