"ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF ART AND LETTERS": SIGNED LIMITED TRIANON PRESS EDITION OF KEYNES' WILLIAM BLAKE: POET, PRINTER, PROPHET, RICHLY ILLUSTRATED IN COLOR

(BLAKE, William) KEYNES, Geoffrey. A Study of the Illuminated Books of William Blake: Poet Printer Prophet. London and Paris: Trianon Press, (1964). Folio (9-1/2 by 12 inches), original half russet morocco, marbled boards, top edge gilt. Housed in publisher's matching marbled slipcase. $850.

Signed limited first edition of Geoffrey Keynes lovely illustrated study of William Blake's visionary Illuminated Books, number 65 of 525 copies signed by Keynes and bound in half morocco, with 32 color plates.

"The plates in this volume have been chosen to show the evolution of Blake's style and the wide range of his profoundly original vision. His Illuminated Books are, in fact, one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of art and letters; for there is no record of another author who illustrated and printed his own works, coloring them by hand as and when he had a purchaser" (Publisher's Note). Surgeon, literary scholar and bibliophile Sir Geoffrey Keynes "was instrumental in establishing Blake as a central figure in the history of English art and literature… Keynes's own collection was to become formidable, rich particularly in drawings, separate prints, books from Blake's own library, and the work of the Blake circle more generally… In 1949, with the help principally of Kerrison Preston, Keynes established the Blake Trust, with the purpose of printing hand-colored collotype facsimiles of all Blake's major illuminated books" (ODNB). These limited editions were very finely printed and published by Arnold Fawcus at the Trianon Press, publisher of the present volume as well. Bentley, Blake Books 688. Bookplate.

Spine gently sunned. Fine condition.