Inscribed by the author to John Piper

TODD, Ruthven ~ Tracks in the Snow. Studied in English Science and Art. Inscribed to the author by John Piper.

First edition, The Grey Walls Press, London: 1946

8vo., burgundy publisher’s boards, with printed blue label ruled and lettered in gilt to backstrip; together in the unclipped dustwrapper (12s. 6d. net) with illustration of Hercules and Diomedes, replicating the image to p. 85 in text; with numerous black and white illustrations throughout on glossy paper, as well as 9 in text; THE BOOK a very good copy, the backstrip label lightly rubbed with some pushing to the spine tips; text block marginally browned, with faint offsetting to the prelims/endpapers; the very good DUST WRAPPER browned to panels, folds, and darkened along spine, with some chipping to the head resulting in no more than 1cm of loss; a couple of small marks/ink splashes but otherwise retaining much of its colour. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. First edition, this copy inscribed by the author to John Piper: “John with love from / Ruthven / 17.xii.1946”, together with Piper’s bookplate to the rear paste down. Many of the images in the text appear reproduced here for the first time in print. A collection of four essays which combine the subjects of early science with the mythologies of William Blake. Todd was a Scottish poet, artist and novelist, but is perhaps best known today as the editor of the Blake’s collected works, a project which he began towards the start of the Second World War. Together with the William Blake expert Sir Geoffrey Keynes, he began to compile a catalogue raisonné of the artworks. Eventually in 1947 the project was abandoned, but is still considered one of the most important collections of Blake research in the 20th century. Later, Todd worked at Stanley William Hayter's Atelier 17 printing workshop, collaborating with Joan Miró and other artists in experiments relating to Blake's printing methods. He henceforth became somewhat of an expert on the subject. Ruthven Todd and fellow print maker John Piper moved in similar circles, and Todd even dedicated a poem to Piper, which was published in the London Bulletin (October 1938). Piper is noted to have found Blake “a little frightening and inscrutable”, but was nonetheless inspired by his work, in 1948 designing a production of the book of Job, which borrowed from Blake’s 1825 illustrations. A very good copy from the personal library of John Piper.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good
JACKET: Very Good