With 12 Plates by Blake
Fables … with a Life of the Author.
London: Printed for John Stockdale, 1793.
Price: $1,250.00
About the item
First Stockdale edition and first with the Blake plates, later issue with short "s" throughout. 2 engraved title-pages with vignette, “Gay Monument” frontispiece and 68 illustrations (including 12 etchings by William Blake). [ii], xii, 225; [ii], vii, 188 pp. 2 vols. 8vo (10-3/8 x 6-3/4 inches). With 12 Plates by Blake. Bound to style in acid-stained calf, covers gilt with outer roll border, flat spine gilt with red morocco lettering-pieces and volume label, a.e.g. Title-pages trimmed with some loss, light foxing to some plates. Bentley & Nurmi 371A; Ray, England 1; Essick, William Blake's Commercial Book Illustrations, XXVI.
Item #259579
The Stockdale edition of Gay’s Fables with 12 engravings by Blake, who freely adapted his source material. Ray considers this one of the best examples of Blake’s work as a reproductive engraver.
