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Rare William Blake Print Poised to Fetch £120,000 at Auction
18 Nov
Summary
- Rare first-issue print of Blake's "The Tyger" poem to be auctioned
- Part of Blake's "Songs of Experience" collection, one of only 4 copies
- Print once owned by "The Wind in the Willows" author Kenneth Grahame
In a remarkable literary event, a rare print of William Blake's celebrated poem "The Tyger" is poised to go under the hammer at an upcoming auction. The print, which is expected to fetch up to £120,000, comes from the first issue of Blake's "Songs of Experience" collection, a remarkable set of just four copies containing 17 of the poet's works.
The etchings, which were both written and illustrated by Blake, offer a unique glimpse into the artist's creative process. As Christie's head of prints for Europe, Murray Macaulay, explains, the interplay between Blake's designs and delicate script "adds a new dimension to his verse, and a touch of humour." The print of "The Tyger" being auctioned was once owned by renowned author Kenneth Grahame, best known for his classic novel "The Wind in the Willows."
