Since 1454, when Gutenberg started using movable type, most printers and publishers have been glad that he simplified their job. But every once in a while some ant-shaming book designer has insisted on doing his printing as if Gutenberg had never existed, engraving each page laboriously by hand. Such a designer was William Blake, who a century and a half ago painstakingly etched a dozen books (with weird, mystical illustrations) on copper plates.
Last week in Manhattan another such laborious job was put on the market. Its text consisted of a long, symbol-stuffed poem...
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