Catalogue of a Valuable and Interesting Collection of Books formed by a Prominent American Playwright, [i.e. Daly] [...] relating to the Drama [...] Original Drawings. Including [...] A Very Valuable Series by W. Blake, Etc., Etc.

Octavo: viii + 201 pages. Good and tight, on aged high-acidity paper, with some chipping and a little light staining at foot. A few pencil marks. In original printed grubby and chipped wraps cloth-taped to spine. Front wrap annotated in pencil. Four-page introduction entitled 'A PLAYWRIGHT'S WORKING LIBRARY.' Even considering the importance and interest of the theatrical collection, the high point is undoubtedly item 102: 'BLAKE, WILLIAM. ORIGINAL DRAWINGS IN WATER COLOURS and INDIA INK by the celebrated WILLIAM BLAKE (Pictor Ignotus). A SERIES of TEN CHARACTERISTIC drawings of this remarkable artist, including some that have been published. In size about 9x12, carefully mounted on card-board.' The description continues for a further thirty-four lines (pp.17-18) without going into particulars. THIS ITEM DOES NEITHER FEATURE IN G. E. BENTLEY, Jr.'s 'Blake Books' (1977), nor in its 'Supplement' (1995), but it seems likely that the drawings offered here are those offered for sale by Bouton in 1875 as by 'the Celebrated William Blake', but in fact probably all the work of John Camden Hotten ('Blake Books', 570, p.661). McKay 2416.