William Blake was born exactly two hundred years and one week before me, so I know that today, 28 November 2018, he turned two hundred sixty one years old. It was in his hand printed books that all his masterly skills as writer, draughtsman, poet, engraver, calligrapher and printer came into play and were put to good use. The longest, most ambitious, last and, by common agreement, best of the Prophetic Books was Jerusalem The Emanation of The Giant Albion. The book was made over a period of sixteen years (1804-20). He only printed six copies (1820-27) and those vary greatly from copy to copy. The only complete copy in color is in the collection of the Yale Center for British Art. When next in New Haven you may ask to see it, and they’ll bring it to you. You just have to wash and dry your hands and put on some gloves beforehand.
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