Beschreibung:

MILTON, John (1608-1674). Paradise Lost. A Poem in Twelve Books. The fourth edition, adorn'd with Sculptures . London: Miles Flesher, for Richard Bentley 1688. [ With :] MILTON, John. Paradise Regain'd. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is added Samson Agonistes . London: R.E for Randal Taylor, 1688.
MILTON, John (1608-1674). Paradise Lost. A Poem in Twelve Books. The fourth edition, adorn'd with Sculptures . London: Miles Flesher, for Richard Bentley 1688. [ With :] MILTON, John. Paradise Regain'd. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is added Samson Agonistes . London: R.E for Randal Taylor, 1688. 2 works in one volume, 2 o (377 x 233 mm). Engraved portrait frontispiece by White after Faithorne, 12 full-page engravings by Burghers chiefly after B. de Medina, list of subscribers. (A few marginal repairs.) 19th-century paneled calf gilt, covers with central arms of William Henry Miller gilt, spine with red morocco gilt lettering-pieces, edges gilt, by Francis Bedford (corners bumped, hinges rubbed). Provenance : William Henry Miller (binding); Britwell Court (penciled shelf mark 8.H.1); acquired from the Britwell Court sale, Sotheby's London, 30 March 1971, Lot 266. "THE EARLIEST SERIOUS EFFORT TO ILLUSTRATE AN IMPORTANT WORK OF ENGLISH POETRY" (Hodnett, Five Centuries of Book Illustration 1988, p. 63); FIRST FOLIO EDITION, FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITION. One of the earliest examples of financing publication through subscription with a printed subscriber's list. The illustrations have been enormously influential in subsequent interpretations of Paradise Lost . A large copy measuring over 14 1/2" by 9": copies as such are often described as "large paper," but, as W.A. Jackson poined out, there is only one issue, and the watermarks in the paper are the same. Grolier Wither to Prior 607; Shawcross 345; Wing M-2148.