Symbol and Image in William Blake, George Wingfield Digby — 1st Edition

£35.00

Symbol and Image in William Blake, George Wingfield Digby — 1st Edition

Name: Symbol and Image in William Blake, George Wingfield Digby — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6046
Price: 35.00 GBP
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Publication: Oxford, Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1957

Formatting: 8vo, pp. xx, 143, [77].

Condition Report: Very Good; Good dust jacket. The underlying navy blue cloth binding is exceptionally well-preserved, remaining entirely clean and bright with sharp, unbumped corners and brilliant, unoxidised gilt lettering stamped to the spine. Internally, the volume is highly presentable; the text block is tight and perfectly square, with crisp pages free from foxing or internal markings. The original cream dust jacket is unclipped and entirely intact but shows moderate signs of shelf-wear, warranting the Good grading. This wear includes general age-toning across the panels, surface rubbing, and light dust-soiling to the rear publisher's advertisements. There are multiple closed tears and associated creasing along the top and bottom edges, most notably resulting in minor chipping and loss at the head and foot of the spine panel, as well as along the flap folds.

Catalogue Note: First edition. Authored by George Wingfield Digby during his tenure as Keeper in the Victoria and Albert Museum, this scholarly volume offers a detailed examination of William Blake's complex visual and poetic symbolism.

Approaching the subject through a Jungian psychoanalytic lens, Digby provides an insightful framework for interpreting Blake's prophetic works, particularly focusing on "The Gates of Paradise" and the "Arlington Court picture". The text is supplemented by seventy-seven half-tone plates reproducing Blake's engravings and watercolours.

While this Clarendon Press imprint appears with regular frequency on the secondary market and is considered a relatively common title, it remains a highly regarded mid-century critical study and a cornerstone reference text for any comprehensive Blake library.

In Symbol and Image in William Blake, George Wingfield Digby delves into the profound psychological depths of Blake's artistic and literary genius. Rejecting purely literal or historical interpretations, Digby argues that Blake's art is fundamentally symbolic, requiring an intuitive and psychological approach to decode its true meaning. By focusing on key works, the author acts as a guide through Blake's visionary landscapes, demonstrating how his mythical figures and intricate engravings serve as a map of the human soul's journey toward spiritual integration.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: George Wingfield Digby

Book Publisher: Oxford at the Clarendon Press

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Criticism & Essays

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 143

Book Publication Year: 1957

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: William Blake

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Oxford, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

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Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
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Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.