$1.8m Auction Estimate for Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience

Sotheby's New York will be offering the Rothschild copy of William Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience, an extremely rare example of the earliest artist books, and one of the most valuable books of poetry ever offered on June 26. 

This copy is one of only six printed during Blake’s lifetime which remains in private hands, and of the other six copies this is one of the earliest printed and the first to appear at auction since 1989 (when it achieved $1,3m). It is estimated to fetch between $1,200,000–1,800,000.


The Rothschild copy of William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul, was printed by Blake and colored in pen and watercolor by him and his wife Catherine Blake. Featuring pieces such as Infant Joy and The Tyger, it is often regarded as the origin of artists’ books. 

About 26 copies of Songs of Innocence and of Experience are thought to have been created by Blake between 1789/1794 and 1827. During that period he also printed three or four copies of Songs of Experience only, and an additional 16 copies of the combined works - some of which are now untraced or dispersed - were produced from Blake’s original plates after his death.