MILTON, JOHN. Paradise Lost. A Poem in Ten Books. London: Printed by S. Simmons, and to be sold by S. Thomson, H. Mortlack, M. Walker and R. Boulter 1668. 4to, 172 x 130 mm. (6 7/8 x 5 1/8 in.), dark brown morocco, covers tooled in blind to a panel design, central panel filled with small flower tools, spine similarly decorated and gilt-lettered, board edges gilt-ruled, turn-ins gilt, g.e., by Bradstreet, outer joints and spine rubbed, upper inner hinge cracked, one front flyleaf detached, lacking first leaf blank, title soiled, small tears to fore-edges of first and last 2 leaves, fol. Z3 torn and repaired, small hole to 2G3 catching 5 letters, marginal repair to 2I1 affecting rule border and verse number on verso, 22 leaves with rule borders shaved or cropped, short marginal tears to 5 leaves catching border, slight discoloration throughout, occasional light spotting, washed and pressed. FIRST EDITION, Amory's issue no. 2 (traditionally the 4th title), the first issue to include the 7 preliminary leaves (quires A4 a4), containing "The Printer to the Reader," "The Argument," "The Verse" and the errata statement. Hugh Amory, "Things Unattempted Yet," in The Book Collector, Spring 1983, pp. 41-66; Wing M-2139.Provenance: N. Skinner, eighteenth-century signature on title -- Adolph Lewisohn, bookplate -- Henry William Poor, bookplate (sale, Anderson Galleries, 17 November 1908, lot 822) -- Jacob J. Podell, bookplate (sale, Parke-Bernet, 29 January 1952, lot 405).

MILTON, JOHN. Paradise Lost. A Poem in Ten Books. London: Printed by S. Simmons, and to be sold by S. Thomson, H. Mortlack, M. Walker and R. Boulter 1668. 4to, 172 x 130 mm. (6 7/8 x 5 1/8 in.), dark brown morocco, covers tooled in blind to a panel design, central panel filled with small flower tools, spine similarly decorated and gilt-lettered, board edges gilt-ruled, turn-ins gilt, g.e., by Bradstreet, outer joints and spine rubbed, upper inner hinge cracked, one front flyleaf detached, lacking first leaf blank, title soiled, small tears to fore-edges of first and last 2 leaves, fol. Z3 torn and repaired, small hole to 2G3 catching 5 letters, marginal repair to 2I1 affecting rule border and verse number on verso, 22 leaves with rule borders shaved or cropped, short marginal tears to 5 leaves catching border, slight discoloration throughout, occasional light spotting, washed and pressed. FIRST EDITION, Amory's issue no. 2 (traditionally the 4th title), the first issue to include the 7 preliminary leaves (quires A4 a4), containing "The Printer to the Reader," "The Argument," "The Verse" and the errata statement. Hugh Amory, "Things Unattempted Yet," in The Book Collector, Spring 1983, pp. 41-66; Wing M-2139. Provenance: N. Skinner, eighteenth-century signature on title -- Adolph Lewisohn, bookplate -- Henry William Poor, bookplate (sale, Anderson Galleries, 17 November 1908, lot 822) -- Jacob J. Podell, bookplate (sale, Parke-Bernet, 29 January 1952, lot 405).

Details

MILTON, JOHN. Paradise Lost. A Poem in Ten Books. London: Printed by S. Simmons, and to be sold by S. Thomson, H. Mortlack, M. Walker and R. Boulter 1668. 4to, 172 x 130 mm. (6 7/8 x 5 1/8 in.), dark brown morocco, covers tooled in blind to a panel design, central panel filled with small flower tools, spine similarly decorated and gilt-lettered, board edges gilt-ruled, turn-ins gilt, g.e., by Bradstreet, outer joints and spine rubbed, upper inner hinge cracked, one front flyleaf detached, lacking first leaf blank, title soiled, small tears to fore-edges of first and last 2 leaves, fol. Z3 torn and repaired, small hole to 2G3 catching 5 letters, marginal repair to 2I1 affecting rule border and verse number on verso, 22 leaves with rule borders shaved or cropped, short marginal tears to 5 leaves catching border, slight discoloration throughout, occasional light spotting, washed and pressed. FIRST EDITION, Amory's issue no. 2 (traditionally the 4th title), the first issue to include the 7 preliminary leaves (quires A4 a4), containing "The Printer to the Reader," "The Argument," "The Verse" and the errata statement. Hugh Amory, "Things Unattempted Yet," in The Book Collector, Spring 1983, pp. 41-66; Wing M-2139.

Provenance: N. Skinner, eighteenth-century signature on title -- Adolph Lewisohn, bookplate -- Henry William Poor, bookplate (sale, Anderson Galleries, 17 November 1908, lot 822) -- Jacob J. Podell, bookplate (sale, Parke-Bernet, 29 January 1952, lot 405).