The Complaint, and The Consolation; or Night Thoughts

London: R. Noble for R. Edwards, 1797. First Edition. Full Morocco. Very Good. Elephantine folio, 44 by 34 cm. viii, [2], 95, [2] pp. 43 of the pages have Blake's expansive, charismatic illustrations surrounding the text. Four of these are section heads, the balance, being border ornamentation, but even the latter are far more than merely decorative. The distinctive Blake artwork fires the imagination regardless. In fact, the text, which is framed with ruled lines, seems to cover some of the illustration. Last two pages are the Explanation of the Engravings, which are often not present. The full navy blue morocco is fairly heavily rubbed along the edges, a bit less so, by the joints. Some scattered soiling within, but the pages are generally quite clean. There are a few closed tears, not of great length, and one repaired close tear which was somewhat longer. The Explanation of Engravings leaf has two repaired tears. Notwithstanding these flaws, this is an attractive, appealing copy.