The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton
London: Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, 1921. Limited Edition. Leather bound. Duodecimo size, 571 pp. Near fine. Item #22031103
John Milton (1608-1674), is likely best known for his epic poem "Paradise Lost" and his hugely influential "Areopagitica" (a condemnation of censorship). Milton "is among history's most influential and impassioned [defenders] of freedom of speech and freedom of the press. His desire for freedom extended beyond his philosophy and was reflected in his style, which included his introduction of new words (coined from Latin and Ancient Greek) to the English language. He was the first modern writer to employ unrhymed verse outside of the theatre or translations" (n.b., per Wiki).
This work was edited after the original texts by H. C. Beeching, and has a frontispiece portrait of Milton photoengraved by Emery Walker after William Faithorne the Elder.
In a lovely custom binding by Riviere & Son (stamped on verso of FFEP) in a handsome modern Cambridge binding with duotone panels, gilt corner fleurons, rule and ornamental borders in gilt, spine ornamentally gilt, raised bands, the board edges decorated in gilt, and inner gilt dentelles; truly a sumptuous production.
___DESCRIPTION: Bound in a full leather custom binding by Riviere (see above), all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, tissue-guarded frontispiece of Milton as described above; duodecimo size (7 5/8" by 5 1/8"), pagination: [i-iv] v-xiii [3] 1-554 [1, printer's statement]. Housed in a slipcase of thin cardboard covered with red cloth.
___CONDITION: Near fine and could likely be deemed fine, with clean boards, straight corners without rubbing, the gilt decorations and rules bright and unrubbed, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; a hint of wear to the joints, else fine. The slipcase very good, still sturdy with no splits or tears, with some overall wear to the cloth.
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Price: $800.00