Limited edition - one of 1000 copies for sale to members of the Folio Society. 2 volumes - Poems. By Mr. Gray [facsimile] and Blake's Illustrations to the Poems of Gray by Irene Tayler, with a poster, letter from The Folio Society and informational pamphlet about the work. In brown buckram-bound solander box with a brown leather title label titled in gold. Facsimile is quarter brown leather over illustrated grey-blue boards, blocked with gold and black in a design by David Eccles (based on a drawing by Blake). Dark brown title label blocked in gold. Iridescent gold endpapers. [116], [4] pp. Irene Tayler's book is set in a recess in the box underneath the folio facsimile. Full grey cloth with a paper title label to front board. Gold endpapers. xiv, 210 pp. A few light marks to the box. Letter is a little creased at the top. Facsimile has very minimal rubbing to corners, but otherwise is as new internally and externally. Irene Tayler volume has a light mark to front board and very minimal rubbing to extremities, internally as new. William Blake produced a high volume of illustrations to accompany the work of other writers, but his illustrations for Thomas Gray's poems are considered among his greatest achievements. Commissioned for his friend, the neoclassical sculptor John Flaxman, as a gift for his wife, reproduced here are all 116 of his original watercolours along with an analysis of the illustrations in the accompanying volume. This folio facsimile of the original manuscript allows an appreciation of the two artistic works as originally intended - with the verse set into the watercolour, one can simultaneously muse on the beauty of the verse and the mystical, dramatic and imaginative scenes it inspired. This is a heavy set and may require additional postage if being shipped outside of Europe. Folio Facsimile
