About this Item
Stated 'Second enlarged Edition.' The first edition was published in 1949 in three volumes. The title page of the first edition is on page 63 in this edition. It was titled International Semantography. Both editions are very rare. This book stands alone as the Only signed copy for sale on the Internet. The inscription is on the first front end paper. It reads: 'To you my good friends Gisa and Joseph in Gratitude for your kind help and interest and in the hope that you might persuade Jewish people in the U.S.A. to donate this book to libraries in Israel, from your old friend Karl Bliss--'. After his signature he wrote a few Hebrew letters, presumably his Hebrew name (see 2nd photo). No other copy of either the first or second edition or of anything else he published is signed. Happily, the book is in very solid shape. The only flaw of any significance is the color change on the spine and on both of the front cover which were exposed to the sun. The rear cover has a little of the same off its top edge. There are also three dark spots on the front cover. The gilt lettering on the front is nicely bright and surprisingly, despite the color change, it is fairly bright on the spine as well. The edges and corners are in excellent shape. There is no rubbing on any of the edges or corners. The two top edges are more of an olive green. The middle and bottom page edges have retained their original green color. The page edges are in very good shape, no conspicuous soiling. Importantly, this 882 page book is very solidly bound from cover to cover with nicely tight pages throughout (without exception) and nicely tight covers as well. The interior of the book is in exceptional condition. Scrolling through, I'm not finding any instances of soiling, and there is no foxing. I'm not finding any conspicuous creasing, no turned-down corners or placeholder creases. A group of pages in the middle of the book have a vague little crinkle down a little ways from their top corners, visible on only one side, nothing much of anything. There are no markings in the book. There are no attachments of any kind. This is NOT an ex-library book. And with the exception of the author's signed inscription, no one has written their name or anything else anywhere. The book has a great many illustrations. C.K. Bliss' work was met with skepticism from many quarters. His persistence was encouraged by both Julian Huxley and Bertrand Russell. Their comments can be seen on the page facing the title page. Russell writes in 1950: 'Supporting Bliss' work means performing an important service to mankind. If schools throughout the world would clarify the use of words calculated to promote passion, the existing hatred between nations, creeds, and political parties would very rapidly diminish, and the preservation of peace throughout the world would become an easy matter.' Huxley, in 1954, added: 'Bliss' work provides something of real importance.' After much struggle 'The world copyright for use of his symbols with handicapped children was licensed to the Blissymbolics Communication Foundation in Canada. In 1976 Bliss was made a Member of the Order of Australia (A.M.) for 'services to the community, particularly to handicapped children.' And in recognition of 'the innovative nature of his work, Bliss was appointed an Honorary Fellow in Linguistics at the Australian National University.' In 1974 Bliss was the subject of the film Mr Symbol Man, a co-production of Film Australia and the National Film Board of Canada.' From the title page: 'A simple system of 100 logical pictorial symbols, which can be operated and read like 1+2=3 in all languages. It can be typed and printed, and used in international communication and commerce, industry and science. It contains also a simple semantics, logic, and ethics, which even children can learn to use in their problems.'.
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