[DANIEL-ROPS] BLAKE, William; Daniel-Rops (translation and critical text); Jean-Vital Prost (illus); Rex Whistler (bookplate)

Le Mariage Du Ciel et de L'Enfer [...] suivie de Deux Études sur William Blake par Daniel-Rops [Presentation Copy to Duff Cooper, British Ambassador to France]

Paris: La Jeune Parque, 1946. First Thus. One of 2000 copies on Velin de Lana (this copy unnumbered; presumably one of a few hors-commerce author's copies). Inscribed on second flyleaf: "à Son Excellence Monsieur Duff Cooper / ce message d'amité franco-britannique, en respectueux et fidèles souvenirs." Octavo (25cm). Morocco-backed marbled boards; marbled endpapers; top edge gilt; 2 preliminary leaves; [14], 115, [19]pp; illus; includes engraved extra-title, frontispiece and 10 wood-engraved text illustrations by Jean-Vital Prost, based on original designs by Blake. Spine leather minutely rubbed on raised bands, gentle rubbing to bottom board edges, else a very fresh, Near Fine copy. Includes two brief essays on Blake by Daniel-Rops. With Cooper's handsome engraved rococco bookplate to front pastedown, designed by Rex Whistler. Text in French.

Lovely bibliophile edition of this modern French translation, published immediately after the Second World War. The inscription to Cooper, who had been appointed British Ambassador to France immediately after the fall of the Vichy government, expresses "a message of Franco-British friendship." Perhaps this was intended as something of a peace offering, as Daniel-Rops, a prominent conservative Catholic intellectual, had initially supported the conservative social direction of Pétain's "Revolution Nationale" and the Vichy régime – though as the war went on he became, if not a critic of, then at least no longer an apologist for, Nazi collaborationism. Cooper, who had been Churchill's Minister of Information at the beginning of the War (and among the British Conservative Party's most steadfast anti-Fascists) would have known something of Daniel-Rops' political pedigree, perhaps lending an extra shade of meaning to the author's inscription. An interesting and distinguished copy of a beautifully-produced book, with the fabulous Whistler bookplate.

Price: $450.00

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