Visions of the Daughters of Albion by Blake, William; Keynes, Geoffrey (Bibliographical Statement) - 1959

London: Printed at the Trianon Press for the Trustees of the William Blake Trust, 1959. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Fine. Blake, William. One of 400 of regular editions (446 copies total), folio size, unpaginated [11 plates and 4 pp. of commentary]. "Visions of the Daughters of Albion" published in 1793, is one of Blake's prophetic books, and is considered to be a sort of sequel to "The Book of Thel". Its early feminist subject matter was influenced in part by Mary Wollstonecraft's "A Vindication of the Rights of Women" published in 1792. In Geoffrey Keynes' Bibliographical Statement, he remarks "The theme of "Visions of the Daughters of Albion" is, in effect, partly a protest against the sexual morals of the day, and it has been related by some writers to crises in Blake's own life, such as his realization that he was tied legally and morally to a barren wife. But this is pure conjecture, and it is better to regard the book as a poet's view of the evils of organized religion, compulsory morals, oppressed womanhood, and, in addition, of slavery.

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.

___DESCRIPTION: Original orange-brown quarter morocco with hand-marbled paper sides, backstrip lettered in gilt, top-edge gilt, eleven colour plates reproduced by the collotype and pochoir processes, printed on Arches pure rag paper made to match the paper used by Blake, each page is watermarked with Blake's monogram; folio size (14.5" by 10.5"), unpaginated [11 plates and 4 pp. of commentary], one of 400 of regular editions, this copy is out of series (446 copies total). Housed in publisher's slipcase covered with the same hand-marbled paper.

___CONDITION: Volume fine overall, with clean covers, internally bright and free of prior owner markings, text block is tight and square, corners are straight; a few, light stray marks on the leather which may be natural variations, else fine; slipcase is near fine, strong and sturdy, the paper coverings with only a few light marks, some minor rubbing to head and tail; overall a fine example.

___CITATION: Bentley, Blake Books, 216.

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