Life Of William Blake, "Pictor Ignotus." With Selections From His Poems And Other Writings By The Late Alexander Gilchrist, Of The Middle Temple, Barrister-At-Law; Author Of "The Life Of William Etty, R.A." Illustrated From Blake's Own Works, In Facsimile By W.J. Linton, And In Photolithography; With A Few Of Blake's Original Plates. In Two Volumes. Vol. I. (II.)

Vol. I: xiv, [2], 389, [1] p., frontis. (port.), [11] pl.: illus. (In the Royal Academy's copy the plate of the Canterbury Pilgrims listed as facing p.230 has been bound in as a folding frontis. to Vol. II.) - Vol. II: viii, 268 p., frontis. (fold.), [40] pl.: illus. (The 'List of Illustrations' calls for 39 pl., incl. 21 for the Book of Job but 22 for the latter are printed incl. t.pl.) (In the Royal Academy's copy the two plates called for to face pp. 1 & 268, are not present.)

Gilchrist's became the most widely-read biography of Blake. After Gilchrist's death his widow, as she explains in her Preface, saw the work through the press, assisted by D.G. Rossetti, who edited the Selections in Volume II, and by W.M. Rossetti, who compiled the catalogue raisonnée in the Appendix. The first volume presents a biography of Blake; the second, a selection from his writings, with an appendix listing his pictures, drawings and engravings.

The plates of Volume I are listed in the 'Directions To Binder' as showing: a portrait of Blake by Linnell (frontis.) and designs by Blake - three from 'Job' (after p.4 and facing p.286), one for 'Plague' (facing p.54), one from 'America' (facing p.112), two from 'Europe' (facing pp.126, 129), three from 'Jerusalem' (facing p.182, and after p.194), one of Canterbury Pilgrimage (facing p.230).

Those of Volume II are listed as two 'From Daughters of Albion' (facing pp. 1 and 268), twenty-one from 'The Book Of Job' (at end) and sixteen from 'Songs Of Innocence Of Experience' (at end).

There are numerous illustrations in Volume I, several drawn from designs by Blake.