SENDAK, Maurice (1929-2012, illustrator) - William BLAKE (1757-1827). Poems from William Blake's Songs of Innocence, London, 1967, tall 12mo, 8 illustrations by Maurice Sendak, printed in sepia. Original wrappers. FIRST EDITION. ONE OF 275 COPIES. RARE.

SENDAK, Maurice (1929-2012, illustrator) - William BLAKE (1757-1827).  Poems from William Blake's Songs of Innocence. London: The Bodley Head at The Stellar Press, 1967. Tall 12mo (192 x 110mm). 8 illustrations by Maurice Sendak, printed in sepia, comprising one on the title and one for each of the poems. Original pictorial wrappers, stitched (2 small stains to title panel of upper wrapper). FIRST EDITION. ONE OF 275 COPIES "for presentation by the Publishers." "In 1967, when Sendak was thirty-nine and at the peak of his career, he received an unusual assignment that moved his heart unlike any other - a chance to finally pay homage to his great creative hero [i.e. William Blake]. It was small and noncommercial, but he took it: The London Publisher The Bodley Head wanted to publish a Christmas keepsake commemorating the company's 80th anniversary, featuring seven poems from Blakes's Songs of Innocence. For each of them, Sendak was asked to create a single, exquisite line drawing. The slim booklet ... was published in a limited edition of 275 copies, none of which were for sale - instead, they were given away as holiday gifts to the authors and artists The Bodley Head represented, and to a handful of other friends of the press. The book is considered the rarest of Sendak's published work - so rare that it's practically impossible for even art historians to get their eyes on a copy for scholarly work. Only a handful are known to survive today ..." (Maria Popova, The Marginalian [online]). Hanrahan A69. RARE.