Books and Manuscripts

[Blake, William] Maynard, George Henry
The Genuine and Complete Works of Flavius Josephus, The celebrated Warlike, Learned and Authentic Jewish Historian...
London: J. Cooke, no date (ca. 1785-92). Early edition, not recorded in Bentley. Folio, 15 1/4 x 9 3/8 in. (387 x 238 mm). 721, (5) pp. (some errors in pagination). Text printed in two columns with printed side notes. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece, 57 engraved plates, including three by William Blake (facing pp. 12, 64, 76), one large engraved folding plan of Jerusalem, and two engraved maps with hand-colored outlining. Contemporary full brown calf, rebacked, red morocco spine label, stamped in gilt, boards rubbed and scratched; all edges trimmed; dampstaining in top corner of prelims and several leaves at front; scattered small wormholes in gutter; scattered minor spotting to text; some very light offsetting onto to text from plates; scattered marginalia. Bentley and Nurmi 386; Bentley, Blake Books 477; ESTC T224512

An early edition of the work of Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, featuring three engravings by William Blake. Bentley identifies five editions of this work (lettered A-E), the first and earliest dating to 1785 and without the addition of Edward Kimpton's continuations and notes. The second is presumed by Bentley to have been printed in 1791 and it features a slightly altered title ("The Whole Genuine and Complete Works of Flavius Josephus"), while the third, Bentley hypothesizes, dates to 1795, and also has a slightly different title-page ("By the King's Royal License and Authority. The Whole Genuine..."). J. Cooke's son, Charles, took over the publishing firm by 1792, and his name is featured on the imprint from there on (Bentley's C-E). This edition features the first edition title ("The Genuine and Complete Works..."), but has the inclusion of Kimpton's continuations and notes.