Heading: (Blake, William - Trianon Press)
Author: Blake, William
Title: The Book of Urizen
Place Published: [London]
Publisher:[Trianon Press for the William Blake Trust]
Date Published: [1958]
Description: 27 color plates after designs by William Blake, with 26 additional progressive proofs of plate 23, plus commentary by Geoffrey Keynes. 28.7x23.3 cm (11¼x9¼"), red full morocco, spine lettered in gilt, top edge gilt, marbled paper-covered slipcase. No. XVI of XX deluxe copies containing a set of hand-colored plates showing progressive stages, color collotype proofs and an original guide sheet and stencil. The total edition consisted of 526 copies.Facsimile of the Lessing J. Rosenwald copy. "The book of Urizen contains the first part of Blake's conception of the universal myth. It recounts the story of the creation of the material world and of mankind, and so has to deal with the inherent problem of evil. Urizen, the God of Reason, resembling the Hebrew Jehovah, is the Creator, his name probably being derived from the Greek ourizein, to set a limit. Los, the poetic genius and symbol of time, is also introduced, since Reason cannot exist without Imagination; but from Los developed Pity, resulting in the division of his soul with the appearance of his Emanation, named Enitharmon, his female counterpart. The offspring of Los and Enitharmon is Orc, the Spirit of Revolt." - Geoffrey Keynes, Bibliographical Statement. Previous owner's return address label on front pastedown.

Light rubbing to slipcase; volume spine sunned a bit, light rubbing at extremities; near fine in very good slipcase.