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Phillips, Stephen; Hill, Vernon (illustrator)
The New Inferno.
Publisher: John Lane, London; New York;
Date of Publication: 1911
Stock Code: 10552
LIMITED EDITION of only 320 copies and the first and only edition illustrated by Vernon Hill. Large Quarto, pp., [8], 143, [1]. Illustrated with 16 full page monochrome plates by Hill. Bound in quarter cream cloth and sage green cloth with printed paper label to spine and printed illustrated label to upper board. Cloth and cover label lightly soiled, mainly to lower board. Light foxing mainly to tissue guards with some sporadic light foxing to plate beneath. Tissue guards all present and intact save one small closed tear on guard at p.120. Binding tight, square and contents bright, clean and free from ownership marks or inscriptions. A very good copy. Boldly illustrated by the elusive and criminally neglected esoteric artist Vernon Hill. Although clearly inspired by the Art Nouveau movement as well as other mystic visionary artists such as William Blake (1757-1827) and Austin Osman Spare (1886-1956), Hill has his own distinctive and arresting numinous style. Indeed the impact of Hill's work's haunting otherworldliness is emphasised in contemporary reviews asserting that Hill "can see visions - whose inner life is not of our life but of a strange occult devising, is impelled irresistibly towards the supernatural." Hill illustrated three works published by John Lane before turning to sculpture, all of which were published in extremely low numbers meaning all works illustrated by him are necessarily scarce. £280.00