How Much Is Nebuchadnezzar Worth?

Nebuchadnezzar ranks among William Blake’s most recognisable visionary single‑sheet images and occupies prime cultural capital within his oeuvre. As a large colour monotype with Blake’s characteristic handling of biblical subject matter, the image is frequently cited in scholarship and featured in exhibitions, which reinforces institutional desire to hold such examples. This iconic status elevates market interest and tends to concentrate buyer attention from museums and specialist collectors; that competitive interest is a primary reason why genuine prime impressions command significant premiums relative to less notable or workshop examples.

Value turns crucially on which impression or state the sheet represents. Only a very small number of Nebuchadnezzar impressions are recorded in major public collections, and monotypes often exist in only a handful of original impressions and states. A first/primary impression with Blake’s hand‑colouring or retouching is scarce and highly prized; later studio impressions or copies are far more common and materially less valuable. Precise Butlin/state identification, the presence of Blake’s hand, and whether the sheet is trimmed or complete all materially affect market positioning and the appropriate sales channel.

A clear, documented provenance (early collectors such as Butts, nineteenth‑century sale records, notable private or museum ownership) and a history of exhibition/publication significantly increase buyer confidence and price. Provenance reduces attribution risk and attracts institutional bidders; exhibition loans and catalogue citations amplify desirability. Conversely, gaps in ownership history or unresolved attribution materially depress realizable value and may relegate a sheet to specialist dealer sales rather than high‑profile auction rooms.

Paper condition, presence of tears, repairs, backing, inpainting or heavy conservation interventions have a major effect on market value for works on paper. Clean, unfaded hand‑colouring, intact paper margins and minimal restoration preserve premium pricing; extensive or visible restoration reduces competitive bidding and can shift an item into a lower market segment. A formal condition report from a paper conservator is essential prior to valuation or marketing and will materially influence the final hammer/offer price.

Recent headline sales of Blake illuminated books and prime sheets demonstrate robust institutional demand and set market ceilings; however the market is bifurcated, with top examples achieving mid‑six to low‑seven figures and secondary examples trading in the low‑to‑mid hundreds of thousands. Timing (auction season, institutional interest, anniversaries) and competition among major collectors or museums commonly determine whether a lot reaches the upper bound. Carefully selected comparables (complete hand‑coloured copies, prime monotypes) inform the US$1M–$4M range proposed here.