The Royal Universal Family Bible..

1780. London: Fielding and Walker, 1780 and J. Fielding: 1781.

Two vols. in one, large thick folio, vol. 1 frontispiece, title page printed in red and black, 6, 632 pp., with 46 plates including 5 maps and a plan; vol. 2 with title page dated 1781, 494 pp., with 33 plates, indices etc., 79 of 80 plates in total. Very early calf very worn and rubbed, newly consolidated and now stable. Internally very good and the plates in fine condition.

ß First edition of this version, being Blake s first appearance as the sole engraver and, in one case, the designer and engraver, of five plates. Plates 1, 2, 3, and 5 all engraved and (5) engraved and designed by Blake. See Essick, CBI, III. Easson and Essick 1, #1 (for plate 5). The plates are: 1) Numbers chap. 13 v. 23 (in vol. 1); 2) Jonah chap. 3 v. 4; 3) Judith chap. 13 v. 104); Matthew chap. 3, v. 135); Revelations chap. 1, v. 12-13. Plate 5 is signed d & sc. Blake. Here, d stands for delineavit as distinct from invenit (invented the image). Essick thinks Blake was strongly influenced by an engraving by Picart see Essick, CBI, p.22. Blake s wash drawing for pl. 5 is in the British Museum.