PARADISE LOST. A POEM IN TWELVE BOOKS [BOUND WITH] PARADISE REGAIN'D by Milton, John - 1688

London: printed by Miles Flesher, for Richard Bently, at the Post-Office in Russell-street, and Jacob Tonson at the Judge's-Head in Chancery-lane near Fleet-street, 1688. Fourth Edition; First Folio Edition and First Illustrated Edition. Hardcover. Folio, [4], 219, [1], 219-250, 151-196, 297-343, [7] pages, [13] leaves of plates; VG-; Bound by Jon Robbins in modern period-style calf. Lacking the plates for books 3, 4, and 6. Archival repairs to endpapers; frontispiece; title page; "The Verse"; the plate for Book 1; the lower corners of pp. 171-176. The plate for Book 12 has archival repairs to a closed tear extending across most of the print and to one of two smaller closed tears to the fore edge margin. Small closed tear to the lower margin of the plate for books 8 and 11. Small areas of damp staining to fore edge margin beginning on p. 43 of Paradise Regain'd and continuing to the end of the volume. Small archival repairs to pp. 26, 37, 51, 53 and 57 of Samson Agonistes. Multiple leaves throughout volume with thin portions at the lower fore edge corner, in some cases resulting in small holes and open tears; text not impacted.

Fourth edition; first folio edition and first illustrated edition. Title page is Wickenheiser's thrid variant (609) of this edition; pagination is Wickenheiser's first variant (607); this combination is also seen in the Morgan Library's PML 36799. Original title page is laid in after a reproduction title page, printed with modern methods. Dryden epigram absent in this copy. Text is continuous despite pagination. The last 3 leaves bear a list of subscribers. One of three imprint variants of this edition.

[Bound with:] Milton, John, 1608-1674. Paradise regain'd. A poem. In IV books. To which is added Samson Agonistes. The author John Milton. London : printed by R. E[veringham]. and are to be sold by Randal Taylor near Stationers-Hall, M DC LXXXVIII. [1688].

[2], 66; [6], 57, [1] p. ; Folio. Printer's name from Wing CD. "Samson Agonistes" has a separate dated title page, pagination, and register. It may also have been published separately (Wing M2177). Wing, M2154. Pforzheimer, 721. Shawcross, J. Milton, 348. Coleridge, 170.

JR Consignment.; shelved case 7

Oversized item(s). Will require additional postage for expedited/international orders. Economy international shipping unavailable due to size/weight restriction(s). Contact seller for additional information. ESTC M2146; Wing M2146; Coleridge, 93c; Shawcross J. Milton, 345.

Engravings by M. Burghers and P.P. Bouche after J.B. Medina, Bernard Lens, and Henry Aldrich (see Shawcross); frontispiece port. engraved by Robert White. One of the earliest examples of subscription publishing, financed by Lord Somers, the fourth edition of Paradise Lost was the first to be printed in folio format and is the first illustrated edition, distinguished by high quality paper, large, clear type, and ample margins.;. 1345591. Shelved Dupont Bookstore.