The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.

Notes

First edition thus, deluxe limited issue: copy VIII of 20 deluxe copies with an original guide sheet and stencil, and a set of hand-coloured plates showing progressive stages, as well as colour collotype proofs, from a total edition of 526 copies on Arches pure rag paper made to match that used by Blake, with each page watermarked with Blake's monogram. These deluxe copies were also bound in full green morocco, where the ordinary issue was only morocco-backed.
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, Blake's boldest and most directly philosophical work, was described by S. Foster Damon as "Blake's Principia, in which he announced a new concept of the universe" (Blake Dictionary). Included at the rear of this deluxe copy is the final plate for Blake's "Memorable Fancy" - after Blake boldly confounds a judging Angel by imposing his own counter-fantasy upon it, this sees the Angel complain "Thy phantasy has imposed upon me & thou oughtest to be ashamed", to which Blake answers, "We impose on one another, & it is but lost time to converse with you whose works are only Analytics".