William Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience

The very scarce first printed edition

Exceedingly scarce first printed edition of William Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience, preceded only by the illuminated engraved copies produced by the author, of which only a handful of copies exist.  While we were unable to locate specific information on the size of the print run, Deborah Dorfman writes that it "enjoyed a narrow circulation" (Blake in the Nineteenth Century, pp 47.)  Blake was not well-known in his own lifetime and after his death his work only fell into even greater obscurity.  This first printed edition, edited by J.J.Garth Wilkinson, marked an important posthumous turning point for Blake's work: "Wilkinson's edition and prefatory essay constitute the first effort to revive Blake" (Dorfman, pp. 48). Original spine laid down; text clean, an outstanding copy of a rare and important edition.

"When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

"Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?"

            --"The Tyger" in Songs of Experience