Paradise Lost John Milton 1667 MILTON, John (1608-1674). Paradise lost. A Poem Written in Ten Books. London: Printed [by Samuel Simons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker...Robert Boulter ..and Matthias Walker, 1667. First edition of Milton’s great epic poem, first issue, with Amory's state 1(b) of the title-page (the traditional first state), dated 1667 and with Milton's name spelled in full and in larger type than "London" of imprint. "The book made its appearance at an unfortunate time. London had barely recovered from the Plague of 1665 (during which eighty printers had died, wherein is seen another reason for the difficulty in finding a publisher), and the great district devastated by the Fire was still only partly rebuilt. It was not surprising that the 1200 copies which are thought to have made the first edition did not have a brisk sale" (Grolier English). The title exists in at least six states, of which the present state had been traditionally recognized as the first. Of the numerous theories attempting to explain the sequence of these variants, the study by Hugh Amory presents a reasonable case for priority belonging to the initial-signed 1668 title, corresponding to how Simons registered the work on 20 August 1667. See Hugh Amory, "Things Unattempted Yet: A bibliography of the first edition of Paradise lost," in: The Book Collector, Spring 1983, pp. 41-66 (1b). The 1667 titles, according to him, were used when the authorised 1668 titles were exhausted. Grolier English 33; Grolier Wither to Prior 599; Hayward 72; Pforzheimer 716 (giving priority to the setting with "Milton" smaller than "London" in imprint); Wing M2138. Quarto (181 x 136 mm). (Lacking preliminary blank, title page with inner margin renewed and with a small repair to upper margin, portion of lower margin on A1 restored with repair to tear crossing a few lines, A2-3 with small marginal nicks or repairs, tear crossing text skilfully repaired on V3 and Z1, lower fore-corner repaired on Tt3, Vv1-2 with some marginal repairs and possibly supplied, Vv1 with tiny rusthole touching a letter.) 19th-century speckled calf gilt, edges gilt, by Bedford; quarter calf folding case. Provenance: William A. White (1843-1927; pencil note on front endpaper: "Alfred J. M? left to W.A.W. 1921") – purchased from John F. Fleming, New York, 21 October 1970 – Abel E. Berland (bookplate; his sale, Christie’s, New York, 8 October 2001, lot 86). Exhibited: Grolier Club, 'This powerfull rime,' 1975, no. 26.
Paradise Lost John Milton 1667 MILTON, John (1608-1674). Paradise lost. A Poem Written in Ten Books. London: Printed [by Samuel Simons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker...Robert Boulter ..and Matthias Walker, 1667. First edition of Milton’s great epic poem, first issue, with Amory's state 1(b) of the title-page (the traditional first state), dated 1667 and with Milton's name spelled in full and in larger type than "London" of imprint. "The book made its appearance at an unfortunate time. London had barely recovered from the Plague of 1665 (during which eighty printers had died, wherein is seen another reason for the difficulty in finding a publisher), and the great district devastated by the Fire was still only partly rebuilt. It was not surprising that the 1200 copies which are thought to have made the first edition did not have a brisk sale" (Grolier English). The title exists in at least six states, of which the present state had been traditionally recognized as the first. Of the numerous theories attempting to explain the sequence of these variants, the study by Hugh Amory presents a reasonable case for priority belonging to the initial-signed 1668 title, corresponding to how Simons registered the work on 20 August 1667. See Hugh Amory, "Things Unattempted Yet: A bibliography of the first edition of Paradise lost," in: The Book Collector, Spring 1983, pp. 41-66 (1b). The 1667 titles, according to him, were used when the authorised 1668 titles were exhausted. Grolier English 33; Grolier Wither to Prior 599; Hayward 72; Pforzheimer 716 (giving priority to the setting with "Milton" smaller than "London" in imprint); Wing M2138. Quarto (181 x 136 mm). (Lacking preliminary blank, title page with inner margin renewed and with a small repair to upper margin, portion of lower margin on A1 restored with repair to tear crossing a few lines, A2-3 with small marginal nicks or repairs, tear crossing text skilfully repaired on V3 and Z1, lower fore-corner repaired on Tt3, Vv1-2 with some marginal repairs and possibly supplied, Vv1 with tiny rusthole touching a letter.) 19th-century speckled calf gilt, edges gilt, by Bedford; quarter calf folding case. Provenance: William A. White (1843-1927; pencil note on front endpaper: "Alfred J. M? left to W.A.W. 1921") – purchased from John F. Fleming, New York, 21 October 1970 – Abel E. Berland (bookplate; his sale, Christie’s, New York, 8 October 2001, lot 86). Exhibited: Grolier Club, 'This powerfull rime,' 1975, no. 26.
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