A highly rare first-issue print of William Blake's celebrated poem, 'The Tyger', is heading for auction where it is expected to sell for as much as £120,000. This exceptional piece forms part of Blake's seminal work, Songs Of Experience, originally published around 1794.
A Scarce and Significant Collection
The collection from which this print originates is exceptionally rare, with only four known copies in existence. Each copy contains 17 poems, all of which were meticulously illustrated, etched, and printed by William Blake himself. Murray Macaulay, Christie’s head of prints for Europe, emphasised the profound importance of experiencing these works as Blake intended.
"For many, the poetry of William Blake is familiar from school anthologies, studied solely as literary works," Macaulay explained. "To see these etchings from Experience opens our eyes to how he intended them, as printed manuscripts." He added that the interplay between Blake's designs and his delicate script introduces a new dimension to the verse, even noting a touch of humour in the famous Tyger illustration, describing it as "a little more Tigger than Tyger."
Provenance and Auction Details
The specific 'The Tyger' print going under the hammer holds a further distinction. It is the only copy from this rare group currently in private hands and was once owned by Kenneth Grahame, the author of The Wind In The Willows. It is set to feature in Christie’s "Old Masters To Modern Day Sale" on December 3.
The auction house has given the print a pre-sale estimate of £80,000 to £120,000. It will not be alone; it will be accompanied by seven other prints from the same Songs Of Experience collection.
Other Notable Works and Viewing Information
The accompanying poems also carry significant estimates, showcasing the high demand for Blake's original works. The lots include:
- My Pretty Rose Tree, Ah! Sunflower, The Lilly, and The Clod and The Pebble (each estimated at £30,000–£50,000)
- Nurse’s Song (estimated at £50,000–£70,000)
- The Chimney Sweeper (£25,000–£35,000)
- A Little Boy Lost and The Human Abstract (£30,000–£50,000)
- A Little Girl Lost (£20,000–£30,000)
All these works are prime examples of Blake's innovative "illuminated painting style". This complex, self-pioneered technique involved writing the text in mirror image and drawing designs directly onto a copper plate before etching it with acid. Blake abandoned this method after 1794 for later editions, making these early prints extraordinarily rare.
The entire collection will be available for public viewing at Christie’s in London from November 27 to December 2, ahead of the auction.
