The Song of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross; O'Connor, John (Translator); Gill, Eric (Illustrator) - 1927

Capel-y-Ffin, Abergavenny: Francis Walterson [Printed by the Chiswick Press], 1927. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Near fine. Gill, Eric. No. 24 of 150 copies, octavo size, 23 pp., signed by Eric Gill. Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591) had a crucial influence on the Catholic Church and the Counter-Reformation, in response to the Protestant Reformation; a Carmelite friar and Spanish mystic, he was arrested and imprisoned for his reform work. In his prison cell in Toledo, he composed most of what became his best-known work, "The Song of the Soul" or the "Spiritual Canticle". This edition of the poem contains wood engravings by Eric Gill (1882-1940), an English sculptor and printmaker deeply influenced by his Catholicism and who illustrated many books for fine presses such as The Golden Cockerel Press. Gill mingles the sombre forms of religion with the sensuality of his figures, revealing a deeply embedded spirituality that complements the poetry. ___DESCRIPTION: Quarter red buckram with green and blue mottled batik boards, gilt lettering on the spine, all edges uncut, title page with a wood engraving by Eric Gill, four wood engravings (including title page) by Eric Gill: "The Flight" (P493), "No Wild Beast Shall Dismay Me" (P494), "Our Bed Is All of Flowers" (P495), and "The Soul and the Bridegroom" (P496); Batchelor handmade paper, octavo (8.5" x 7"), pagination: [1]-21 [22] [1 colophon], one of 150 copies, this number 24, signed by Eric Gill on the colophon. ___CONDITION: Volume is near fine, with clean boards, straight corners, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, all illustrations are beautiful, bright, and clean, and entirely free of prior owner markings; boards have some sunning to the top edges, the spine is slightly sunned, slight rubbing to the corners, and there is some off-setting to the free endpapers. ___CITATION: Gill no. 280. ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard shipping charge does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.