Paradise lost. A Poem in Ten Books.

MILTON, John.

Edité par London: Printed by S. Simmons, and are to be sold by T. Helder at the Angel in Little Brittain, 1669

First edition of Milton's poetic masterpiece, his epic retelling of Satan's expulsion from Heaven and the temptation of Adam and Eve, lauded by John Dryden as "one of the greatest, most noble and sublime poems which either this Age or Nation has produc'd" (Dryden, f. b1). This copy has several annotations in a contemporary hand, correcting the misprint noted on the errata leaf, which is inscribed "This errata is corrected". The contract for the book's publication, between Milton and the stationer Samuel Simmons, is the earliest agreement between an author and a publisher for which there exists documentary evidence. Sealed on 27 April 1667, it specifies a first edition of 1,300 copies. The edition did not finally sell out until the spring of 1669, by which time six successive title pages had been used to promote its sale. This copy has Amory's fourth issue title page (traditionally the sixth), dated 1669, "T. Helder" listed as the bookseller, a comma after "Little Brittain" and "Angel" printed in italic type, and without the "Printer to the Reader" address at the head of leaf A2. ESTC R13352; Grolier, Wither to Prior 603; Lowndes 1558; Pforzheimer 718; Shawcross 302. Hugh Amory, "Things Unattempted Yet: A bibliography of the first edition of Paradise Lost", Book Collector, Spring 1983; John Dryden, The State of Innocence, and Fall of Man: An Opera, 1677. Quarto (176 x 136mm): A4 a4 2A4 B-2T4 2V2; 178 leaves. Woodcut head-pieces and initial letters. Nineteenth-century calf, rebacked with the original spine laid down, spine richly gilt with twin morocco labels, triple gilt fillet borders and panels to covers with floriate sprigs to corners, inner dentelles gilt, edges gilt. Three ownership inscriptions to initial binders blank, the first dated 1863. Discreet paper repairs to outer corners of first two gatherings, just touching black border on title, occasional spill-burns with loss to a dozen letters on F4, minor browning and foxing. A very good copy. N° de réf. du vendeur 191350

Détails bibliographiques

Titre : Paradise lost. A Poem in Ten Books.
Éditeur : London: Printed by S. Simmons, and are to be sold by T. Helder at the Angel in Little Brittain, 1669
Edition : Edition originale