SONGS OF INNOCENCE (J. Robert Oppenheimer's Copy) by BLAKE, William [OPPENHEIMER, J. Robert] - [1954]

(London): (Trianon Press for William Blake Trust), [1954]. First Edition. Hardcover. Minor rubbing to spine tips. Near Fine in a Near Fine slipcase. William Blake. Quarter tan publisher's calf (5-1/4" x 8-1/2") housed in a slipcase. Copy #823 of 1626 of this color facsimile of Blake's masterpiece, the original donated to the Library of Congress by Lessing Rosenwald who has INSCRIBED this copy on the front endpaper to Robert Oppenheimer on 22 February 1955. Rosenwald was the pre-eminent collector of Blake and donated his collection to the Library of Congress. Before that he had donated his collection of books on the history of science to Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, headed by Oppenheimer (1947-1966). In a letter [not included here] bookseller Jake Zeitlin describes the process of acquiring the collection which formed the foundation of the History of Science Library at Princeton. Among numerous titles and offices held by Lessing Rosenwald was the wartime (WWII) president of Princeton’s Institute of Advanced Study which produced essential research and technology for the Manhattan Project. Exceptional Association!