William Blake's Prophetic Writings Vol 1 & 2
Edited By D.J. Sloss & J.P.R. Wallis
Oxford 1st Edition 1926
Edition & Publication
Publisher: Oxford: At the Claredon Press
Year: 1926
Edition: True First Edition
Printing: First Printing stated
Identifiers: N/A (no ISBN issued); Standard bibliographic citations refer to Sloss & Wallis 1926 edition.
Condition
- Boards: Original dark blue cloth with gilt spine titling. Slight outward bending near fore-edges as typical for books of this size and age. Minor corner rubbing.
- Dust Jacket: No dust jackets present, as typical - extremely scarce if ever issued.
- Binding: Tight and square, hinges strong. No cracking or separation.
- Pages: Illustrated with black and white frontispieces (including The Book of Urizen, Europe, and America facsimiles). Pages evenly toned and clean. Very light foxing on top of the pages of the closed book as shown.
- Other Notes: Very good condition overall for nearly 100 years old. Suitable for research, exhibition, or high-end private collection. Minor shelf wear only.
Appraisal Notes
Verification: Confirmed as first issue via publisher imprint (“Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1926”), original dark blue cloth bindings, and title page format consistent with bibliographic records. Cross-checked against Rinder & Keynes Bibliography of Blake Editions and matching auction records from Bonhams (2017), Swann Galleries, and WorthPoint. No indication of later reprint (e.g., 1964/1969 editions).
Significance: First collected edition of Blake’s complete prophetic corpus edited by Sloss & Wallis, printed in small numbers by Clarendon Press. Rarely encountered complete in both volumes with frontispiece plates intact. Dust jackets are nearly unheard of; most extant examples are unjacketed. Comparable jacketless copy in similar condition sold at Bonhams for USD $425 (2017); a near-fine unopened copy listed at $850 by Argosy Books (NYC). Increasingly scarce in collectible condition due to age and academic use.
Additional Details: Includes 10 black-and-white facsimile illustrations (as issued).
Blurb / Summary
A cornerstone of visionary literature, The Prophetic Writings of William Blake (1926) gathers the full body of Blake’s profound mythopoeic works into a definitive scholarly edition. Edited by D.J. Sloss and J.P.R. Wallis and published by the Clarendon Press, this two-volume set presents Blake’s esoteric masterpieces - including The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, America: A Prophecy, The Book of Urizen, and Jerusalem - in meticulous transcription, with facsimile illustrations and critical apparatus.
Blake’s prophetic books stand among the most original and complex literary works in the English canon, combining poetry, philosophy, and mysticism in a wholly unique cosmology. This 1926 edition marked the first attempt to present them as a unified body of work, and it remains a foundational resource for scholars, collectors, and admirers of Blake’s radical imagination.
This true first edition is prized not only for its rarity but for its role in cementing Blake’s place in literary history as both poet and prophet.
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Please review all photos carefully. We strive to photograph every detail clearly, including blemishes, inscriptions, and binding edges. If you'd like to see more angles, close-ups, or a brief video overview, we're more than happy to provide them. Just send us a message before purchase to ensure you're confident in what you're buying.
Shipping
We dispatch all orders within 1?3 business days (Monday to Friday), using eco-friendly materials where possible.
Books are carefully wrapped and boxed ? not bagged ? because a treasured book deserves more than a plastic sleeve.
We want your unboxing experience to echo the wonder of the story within.
Combined Shipping:
We?re happy to combine shipping on multiple purchases. Just message us before checkout so we can calculate the safest and most efficient way to send your books.
Returns
We accept returns within 30 days (as required by eBay), but kindly ask you to reach out within 14 days of delivery if something's not right.
Returned items must be in their original condition and packaging.
High-Value Books (AUD $500+):
A restocking fee of 5?15% may apply, depending on the condition upon return. We handle each case with fairness and care.
Return shipping is the responsibility of the buyer unless the item was misdescribed or damaged in transit.
Payment
Secure payments are processed via eBay's managed system.
We accept major credit and debit cards, PayPal, and Afterpay (where available).
Payment is required within 48 hours unless arranged otherwise.
Customer Support
We're a small, passionate bookselling studio ? and we genuinely care about your experience.
If you have any questions, want to bundle books, or need help with anything at all, just send us a message.
We aim to respond within 24 hours, usually sooner.