Joys, Passages from the Works of Thomas Traherne (1637-1674)

[Monmouthshire]: The Old Stile Press, 2004. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Fine. Lemaire, Angela. Letter B of 26 copies of the special edition, quarto size, [44] pp., signed by Angela Lemaire. The writings of Thomas Traherne (ca. 1636 - ca. 1674) were largely ignored for two centuries after his death, until two of his manuscripts were discovered by chance in a bookstall in London; subsequently, Traherne's work, particularly his poetry, was widely read and was influential in the poetic sphere in the twentieth century, particularly the Metaphysical and Romantic movements.

"Joys", published by The Old Stile Press, takes its text from excepts from "Centuries of Meditation" and "The Poetical Works of Thomas Traherne", each of which were published in the 1930s, long after Traherne's lifetime. The writing depicts a childlike love for God and nature and an appreciation for the luminous and mystery in the world; the "passages. . speak of the search for the pure vision of infancy - that vision which encompasses all things, the depths and the heights. . . .The eternity within us responds to the eternity of nature, life and others" (n. b., from the website of The Old Stile Press).

Printmaker and book artist Angela Lemaire chose the passages in the book and provides stunning woodcuts and wood engravings to illustrate the text; her prints explore the ethereal and interconnected spiritual and natural worlds. This volume is one of the 26 special edition copies with all the illustrations hand-coloured by Lemaire, adding a delicate personal touch to the exquisite imagery.

___DESCRIPTION: Quarter brown leather with patterned paper boards designed by Angela Lemaire, silver lettering on the spine, sage green endpapers, all pages with sage green linocut border by Lemaire, frontispiece a dark blue wood engraving with hand-colouring by Lemaire, title page in brown, nine wood engravings (including frontispiece) and five woodcuts, all with hand-colouring, by Lemaire throughout; Truesdell type, Zerkall paper, quarto size (10" by 8.5"), 44 unnumbered pages, one of 26 copies of the special edition (total edition 200 copies), this lettered B, signed by Angela Lemaire on the colophon. Loosely laid in is the prospectus, a digital print-out, with a hand-written note to the prior/original owner from the publisher on the front, and two colour photographs showing the regular and the special, hand-coloured edition loosely laid in. Housed in a clamshell box covered in linen with a recessed woodcut printed in sage green, hand-coloured by Lemaire, on the front board, and dark blue velvet-lined trays.

___CONDITION: A fine copy; the covers clean, the corners straight and unrubbed, the binding tight with solid hinges, the interior clean and bright, and free of prior owner markings. The clamshell box is fine also, strong and sturdy, clean, without wear. The prospectus in fine, clean, without wear, with the original mailing folds.

___CITATION: The Old Stile Press website.

___POSTAGE:  International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.

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