Jerusalem; The Emanation of the Giant Albion

London: Printed at the Trianon Press for the Trustees of the William Blake Trust, 1974. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Fine. Blake, William. One of the 500 copies bound in quarter morocco, folio size, unpaginated [33 plates and 9 pp. of commentary]. Poet, printer, artist and prophet William Blake (1757-1827) is arguably the most original and highly-regarded English authors of all time. Although thought mad by his contemporaries, he was also held in high regard for his expressiveness and for the synthesis of philosophical and mystical senses within his work.

Blake's "Jerusalem" has been spectacularly reproduced through the pochoir technique by Arnold Fawcus and his Trianon Press, which has an undeniable claim to being the finest press of its kind in the last century and has long been known for their unrivaled artworks in fine colour printing. "Jerusalem" is Blake's longest prophetic book, with 100 plates that were completed in 1820, 33 of which are reproduced in this volume. Its large host of characters take on the subject of mankind's struggle throughout history for wholeness, with Jerusalem and Albion being allegorical figures representative of the male and female halves of humanity seeking to be unified as one.

___DESCRIPTION: Quarter morocco with hand-marbled paper sides, backstrip lettered in gilt, thirty-three plates (including the eight proofs) reproduced by collotype and pochoir, printed on Arches pure rag paper made to match the paper used by Blake, each page watermarked with Blake's monogram; folio size (14 3/4" by 10 1/2"), thirty-three plates and nine pp. of commentary, limited edition, this no. 218 of the 500 copies bound in quarter morocco (558 copies total). Housed in publisher's slipcase of the same hand-marbled paper with matching morocco guards at the head and tail of the opening.

____CONDITION: A fine copy, the leather smooth and supple, the marbled paper clean and unrubbed, the corners perfectly straight and unrubbed, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, internally clean and bright, the sole prior owner marking being a name and date discreetly written at the top of the front pastedown; other than that sole prior owner name this copy is clean, crisp, and as new. Slipcase also fine, strong and sturdy, the marbled paper clean and without wear. Overall a stunning example.

___CITATION: Bentley, Blake Books, A82.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard shipping charge does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.

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