There is no Natural Religion. Eight (?) Small Leaves, each containing a thesis on this favourite dogma of Blake's, accompanied by a slight coloured design. In a List of Works by Blake, offered for sale by his widow, to Mr. Ferguson (p. 410, Vol. 1), occurs the following item :— Outhoun. 12 Plates, 6 inches, more or less. Price £2 25. o. [I have never seen a copy of this, nor been able to find any one who has. Even Mr. Linnell had never heard of it. But the above must be taken, I think, as indisputable evidence that such a book does or did exist. An ingenious friend suggested that 'Outhoun' might be another title for the Visions of the Daughters of Albion, in which one Oothoon plays a prominent part. But the number of plates in the two not corresponding decisively negatives such a supposition.] Tiriel, first printed in the Aldine edition of the British Poets: William Blake. Edited by William Michael Rossetti. 1874. Poems gleaned from the MS. Note-book belonging to Mr. Rossetti; printed for the first time in this work : Ideas of Good and Evil, pp. 85-128 Vol. II. Prose from the same source : Public Address, pp. 164-177 Vol. II. A Vision of the Last Judgment, 185-200 Vol. II. [The following is a copy of a characteristic Prospectus issued by Blake, in 1793. The original is in engraved writing printed in blue on a single leaf about 11 × 7 inches. Of course it has become excessively rare, the specimen here described having been obtained only at the last moment, through perseveringly kind efforts on the part of Mr. Frost, A.R.A.] October 10, 1793. To the Public. The Labours of the Artist, the Poet, the Musician, have been proverbially attended by poverty and obscurity; this was never the fault of the Public, but was owing to a neglect of means to propagate such works as have wholly absorbed the Man of Genius. Even Milton and Shakespeare could not publish their own works. This difficulty has been obviated by the Author of the following productions now presented to the Public; who has invented a method of Printing both Letter-press and Engraving in a style more ornamental, uniform, and grand, than any before discovered, while it produces works at less than one-fourth of the expense. If a method of Printing which combines the Painter and the Poet is a phenomenon worthy of public attention, provided that it exceeds in elegance all former methods, the Author is sure of his reward. Mr. Blake's powers of invention very early engaged the attention of many persons of eminence and fortune; by whose means he has been regularly enabled to bring before the Public works (he is not afraid to say) of equal magnitude and consequence with the productions of any age or country: among which are two large highly finished engravings (and two more are nearly ready) which will commence a Series of subjects from the Bible, and another from the History of England. The following are the Subjects of the several Works now published and on Sale at Mr. Blake's, No. 13, Hercules Buildings, Lambeth. 1. Job, a Historical Engraving. Size 1 ft. 7 in. by 1 ft. 2 in.: price 125. 2. Edward and Elinor, a Historical Engraving. Size 1 ft. 6 in. 3. America, a Prophecy, in Illuminated Printing. Folio, with 18 designs, price 10s. 6d. 4. Visions of the Daughters of Albion, in Illuminated Printing. Folio, with 8 designs, price 7s. 6d. 5. The Book of Thel, a Poem in Illuminated Printing. Quarto, with 6 designs, price 35. 6. The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, in Illuminated Printing. Quarto, with fourteen designs, price 7s. 6d. 7. Songs of Innocence, in Illuminated Printing. Octavo, with 25 designs, price 5s. 8. Songs of Experience, in Illuminated Printing. Octavo, with 25 designs, price 5s. 9. The History of England, a small book of Engravings. Price 35. 10. The Gates of Paradise, a small book of Engravings. Price 35. The Illuminated Books are Printed in Colours, and on the most beautiful wove paper that could be procured. No Subscriptions for the numerous great works now in hand are asked, for none are wanted; but the Author will produce his works, and offer them to sale at a fair price. |