Europe, A Prophecy

London: Printed at the Trianon Press for the Trustees of the William Blake Trust, 1969. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Fine. Blake, William. One of 20 copies bound in full morocco, with extra proofs and stencil, folio size, unpaginated [17 plates and 6 pp. of commentary]. "Europe, A Prophecy" was printed in Lambeth before and during 1795. One of Blake's prophetic books, it is part of the expansive world mythology Blake envisioned that included Creation and the first eighteen centuries of the Christian era. Though written later, it includes an early portion of that mythos which was first presented in "America". "Europe" contains one of Blake's most well (truncated) known illustrations, known as "The Ancient of Days" depicting Urizen, the creator/God figure, drawing the first circle of the earth with a golden compass.

William Blake (1757 - 1827) is arguably the most original and highly-regarded English author - unusual in that he excelled both as an author and an artist. Although thought mad by his contemporaries, he was held in high regard for his expressiveness and for the synthesis of philosophical and mystical senses within his work. Blake’s work 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.

This deluxe title is one of the best, in our opinion of the Trianon Press Blake books, with an additional set of proof sheets for the entire book, five progressive plates of the title page, and a set of progressive plates plus the stencil for the "Preludium".

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full tan morocco, backstrip lettered in gilt, top edge gilt, seventeen color plates reproduced by the collotype and pochoir processes, printed on Arches pure rag paper made to match the paper used by Blake, each leaf is watermarked with Blake's monogram; folio size (14" by 10 3/4"), unpaginated [17 plates and 6 pp. of commentary], additional proofs and progressive plates as described above, limited edition, this number I of the 20 deluxe copies (total edition 526). Housed in publisher's slipcase covered with the same hand-marbled paper with matching morocco guards at the head and tail of the opening.

___CONDITION: Volume fine overall, the leather boards clean, smooth and supple, the gilt top edge bright, the corners unrubbed, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior clean and bright, and the sole prior owner marking we see a name and date (?) discreetly written above the stencil on the rear pastewon; the top front corner lightly bumped, else fine. Slipcase also fine overall, the paper sides clean, without splits or tears to the seams; light wear to the leather guards, else fine.

___CITATION: Bentley, Blake Books, no. 34.

___POSTAGE: Please note that this is an unusually large volume and additional postage may apply; please inquire for details.

___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help. (Inventory #: 33331073)