It is singular that, for formed style and purely literary qualities, Blake perhaps never afterwards equalled the best things in this youthful volume...Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1863)

The songs in this volume give evidence of so rare a gift of poetical judgement, such exquisite natural sense and art...Algernon Charles Swinburne (1868)

Poetical Sketches was the first and only volume of William Blakes poetry printed in his lifetime. Long unavailable in its entirety as a single volume, this edition is reproduced from an extremely rare copy of the original 1783 book, cared for by the City of Westminster Archive Centre, and contains corrections to the printed text hand-written by Blake himself. The writings range from work written in Blake's twelfth year up to that of his twentieth and gives a unique insight into his early career as a writer.

Published to coincide with the 250th anniversary of William Blake's birth in November 1757, this beautiful facsimile also contains an introduction by Robin Hamlyn who considers the history of the book itself and the place it has in Blake's pursuit of fame.