New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-23
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LITERATURE IN LONDON.
OLD AND NEW PUBLICATIONS.


OLD AND NEW PUBLICATIONS.
NEW EDITION OF THE LIFE OF WILLIAM BLAKE
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE ExEMPLIFIED-A RARE
AND BEAUTIFUL Observation-Disclosures
OVER VOLUME OF SKETCHES BY ADELAIDE
XEMBLE sARTORIs-woRKs PERUsED BY GEORGE
ELIOT JUST BEFORE HER DEATH.
rRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIDUNE.l
LONDON, Dec. 20.-A second edition of he well
known "Life of William Blake" by Alexander
Gilchrist, has been published by Mcssrs. Mac
milan d. Co., with much attention to typo
graphical beauty. This book has had q checkercd
history. Originally appearing in 1863, it APP
pealed to public which had as yet but mod
crate enthusiasm for Blake and his works. More
accurately speaking the enthusiasm, though in
tense enough was confined to a moderate number.
The edition hung the market. After some time,
an enterprising dealer of New-YoIk, Mr.. Bouton.
bought the remainder at a low price. lie resold
10 the retail trade large portion OF the copies
almost Immediately at good advance. not in
| New-York but in London; an operation not con-
ducive to the cOntentment OF the first vendors
with their bargain, but likely enough to raise the
reputation of American dealers for smartncss;
which stood prctty high before. From that date
the book began to be wanted and to rise in price,
Shortly before the issue OF this present second ed
and YOU were asked two guineas for it $50 at the
second hand shops; winch is the publishing price of
the new one.
Blakes books and drawings meantime have in
creased in esteem and fetch price out of all pro-
portion to their nominal price. On the first sale
catalogue turn to find copy of the Jerusalem,
of which the bookseller remarks that 1t has not
perhaps occurred for sale more than two or three
times since the death of its author, ana has on
each of these rare occasions been sold Tor an IN
creasingly largo sum. For his copy he tells u.s. he
paid E1OO at auction. and it is now for sale;
price not named the being left to the compel
Ing enthusiasm of eager Bakeists. That is device
occasionally adopted by the ambitious bookseller !;
the schooner the better, one feels inclined to add.
far more important work is mentioned in the
preface to the present edition of the Life, and il
| elaboratey described in the text. This is nothing
less than the whole series of the original designs
| by Blake to Young's Night Thoughts" of which
very small portion only has been engraved or pub
| ished in the well-known edition of 1897 by Ed
| wards The published book is by no means among
| the rarest and dearest of Blakes productions An
| uncut genuine copy with the Explanation il priced
| on recent catalogue at ten gu,ncas. VI the
original designs there are no less than 537 now
existing in two volumes, In the possession OF that
pearl of booksellers Mr.. Balm. Of the liaymarlct.
MIR. F. j. Shields, who supplies the account Of
| them tells us that until the discovery OF these
| two wondrous volumes, it was never suspected
| that the complete series OF designs TO the Nine
| Nights was executed by the artist" They were
| executed and were bound ND at the time. The first
| voume bears the name of the publisher of the
| few designs heretofore known, Richard Edwards.
| of High Elms. The complete unpublished and
| unengraved work was preserved in the publisher =
| family. living in Yorkshire and from them passed
4 d., No nnhu Mr.
volumes is more careful piece of photographed
dissertation than is common in English writer's, and
will interest lovers Of Blake one more instance
| of his capacity for taking pains:
There was published in Parts or Nights between
| 17I2-l145, q quartO edition OF tile might
| Thoughts; and a copy of the letter-preSs nine
| inches high by six and half wide is inlaid some
what out Of the centre, within sheet Oh drawing
paper, measuring seventeen ny Twelve anu .n mr.
Whatman. 1884 is again itself inlald IN stronger
cdging OF paper. bearing on It's inner margin ruled
| the designs; the whole page thus deliberately
| constituted measuring twenty-one by sixteen
| inches.
outer margin of the drawing papef 49, as before III
dicated, unequaly distributed being broad ut the
| base and one side, and narrow at the top and Oppo-
Site side. Filling these spaces and covering both
sides OF the sheet, the designs are drawn with the
brush in Indian ink and then colored, sometimes III
| pale tints only, sometimes with tuii depth ana
| At the btennng of each volume there is a
| frontspicce entirely filled with design. unbroken
| liz text: and each Night has, to It's pages OF title
and preface, appropriate and suggestive INVENTIONS,
beside those which illustrate the text OF the poei
| Mr. Shields has given brief and somewhat lyrical
| descriptions OF moro than hundred OF these de-
| signs; of which a single specimen must suffice The
illustration is to the line, One sun by day, by
night ten thousand shine ;; and Mr.. Shields says
| design of radiant and supernatural beauty.
| no sta ifad w
with golden urns, from which they pour oIth silver
the rapt eyes OF the adorng mortal below, kneelng
| with arms crossed upon his breast.
These volumes will, | presume eventually find
| their way into the British Museum, which is be-
| yond question their proper destination; unless
| some American collector should take it into his
head to deprive the Britisher Of what ought to he
| to him possession and joy forever.
This second edition OF the Life is further enriched
| by thirty -four letters from Blake to Hayley. Of
which the autographs were sold in 1878, mostly to
Mr.. Frederick Locker, who like Lord Houghton. is
both poet and q collector, and Mr. Alexander
Macmillan; with q number Of others The an
notated catalogue and other parts Of the book have
| boon revised, whiie from America has come
belpp says the editor. Mrs. Glchrst. in the shape
/ oxaxlao ~