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WILLIAM BLAKETHE BOOK OF THELBook Club of California, 1930One of 300 CopiesPrinted by Cecil and James Johnson at the Windsor PressOriginal Vellum Binding and Slipcase
BLAKE, William. The Book of Thel. San Francisco: The Book Club of California, 1930.
Limited edition, copy No. 155 of only 300 copies printed for the Book Club of California by Cecil and James Johnson at the Windsor Press, with decoration by Julian A. Links.
A handsome miniature fine-press edition of Blake's early prophetic poem, retaining both its original full limp vellum binding, lettered vertically in gilt on the front cover, and its original blue-gray paper-covered slipcase with printed paper spine label.
The Book Club of California's own bibliography records the volume as measuring approximately 5 × 3¾ inches, comprising 22 pages, handset in Lutetia Italic on handmade paper. It notes a decorative title and one full-page illustration printed in blue-green after designs by Julian Links. Only 300 copies were produced.
The limitation page reads:
Three hundred copies printed for
The Book Club of California
by Cecil and James Johnson at
The Windsor Press. Decoration
by Julian A. Links. No. 155
An Interesting Rockwell Kent Connection
This edition has an unusual place in American private-press history because Julian Links's illustration attracted the attention of artist Rockwell Kent, who believed it too closely resembled one of his own designs. Contemporary bibliographical accounts record that Kent complained directly to the Book Club of California about the illustration. The episode has made this otherwise small production one of the more curious publications in the Club's early history.
The present copy does not contain a Rockwell Kent letter.
Provenance
With the engraved bookplate of F. Herman Schauinger to the front pastedown.
An additional presentation label records:
“The Gift of Alice B. Baker Furst to Agnes D. Inglis”
with an early pencil notation identifying the volume as Book Club of California 155/300.
Condition
Very good overall.
The original vellum binding remains sound and attractive, with expected age toning and light surface discoloration, somewhat darker along the spine and edges. Gilt cover lettering remains readily legible.
Internally quite clean and well preserved, with only occasional minor spotting or handling marks. Deckle edges preserved. Limitation and illustrations are clean and bright.
The original blue-gray paper slipcase is present, an important survival. It shows considerably more wear than the book, including rubbing, staining, age toning, edge and corner wear, and some splitting/loss at the ends. The original paper spine label is present but stained and faded.
Please examine the photographs carefully as they form part of the condition description.
Bibliographical Details
- William Blake, The Book of Thel
- San Francisco: Book Club of California, 1930
- Printed by Cecil and James Johnson at the Windsor Press
- Decoration by Julian A. Links
- No. 155 of 300 copies
- Handset Lutetia Italic type
- Handmade paper
- 22 pages
- Approximately 5 × 3¾ inches
- Original limp vellum, gilt-lettered
- Original paper-covered slipcase with printed label
- Bookplate and presentation provenance
A particularly appealing survival of an early Book Club of California publication, combining William Blake, American fine printing, original vellum, and the fascinating Julian Links/Rockwell Kent controversy.
