MILTON PARADISE LOST 2V 1750 ORIG LEATHER W HAYMAN PLTS

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John Milton, Paradise Lost, A Poem, in Twelve Books. The Second Edition, With Notes of various Authors, by Thomas Newton, D.D. (London: Printed for J. and R. Tonson..., 1750) Complete in two Large 8vo volumes (8 1/8" by 5 1/4"). Vol. 1, 510 pp. + erratum. Vol. 2, 447 pp. + postscript + general index. Early and probably original full polished calf, five raised bands, spine compartment ornamented and ruled in gilt, dual contrasting spine labels in gilt, board edges gilt. Illustrated with 12 copper engraved full page chapter frontis plates after Hayman, plus new frontis portrait of Milton by George Virtue. THE SECOND NEWTON EDITION. FIRST EDITION THUS. "Milton is the second greatest name in the history of English literature." (Dickinson 1000). "To call it a masterwork is superfluous...Paradise Lost is one the most unique, individual, unmistakable poems in the language." (Henry Van Dyke). This complete Milton Paradise Lost was issued by noted London publisher Tonson with some of the finest 18th century illustrations -- the Hayman plates -- this for classic title that was much reprinted and just as often illustrated. This is the 1st octavo edition containing these 12 plates -- a quarto edition appeared the year before. This 1750 edition is also the 1st to contain Newton's postscript in V. 2. Hayman's first illustrations were published in 1742 for Richardson's Pamela, in collaboration with the French engraver Gravelot. They were followed by thirty-six plates commissioned for Sir Thomas Hanmer's edition of Shakespeare. Based on the success of the Shakespeare plates, Hayman was awarded the commission for this edition of Milton. Hayman's plates are decidedly more dramatic, and less theological in subject matter, than the first illustrated edition of Paradise Lost, which appeared in 1688 and was published by Jacob Tonson. Much Milton criticism had also appeared in the years before 1750, and Newton includes much of this criticism in his extensive notes to the text. Dr. Thomas Newton, who was the editor of this set, became the Bishop of Bristol and also was a fellow of Trinity College. As an interesting association, this set from the library of and with ownership inscription at front free endpaper of Charles Turnor, dated 1788. Mr. Turnor graduated from Trinity College in 1791, earned an M.A. degree in 1794, and a Divinity Doctorate in 1797. In 1825 he succeeded his brother George as Vicar of Milton Ernneys. He was the author of, "Thoughts on the present state of the Poor; with hints for the improvement of their condition (1818). This set is bound in early and probably original full polished calf, extensively gilt. Both boards and spines are original -- hinges are sound, professionally and neatly restored. Contrasting leather spine labels are unchipped, of later vintage. Head and tail of spines are considerably worn, as are board edges and corners. Leather boards are bright and little worn overall. Signatures tightly bound, pages clean and unworn with little foxing. Text is printed on heavy rag hand made laid paper. Plates are fresh and darkly struck. A slight ghost of tooled rectangular label at center of front board each volume. This "trace" inscription is framed by a rectangular box and reads: "T. C. 1756". Inscription in early hand, "No. 77" appears at top of title page V. 1. No dampstaining, no musty or smoky aroma. This is an important early edition of a landmark text of Western literature. For many critics, Milton ranks second only to Shakespeare among the classic English authors. No copy of this famed set in the 1749 edition is currently offered by internet listing dealers. A later 1758 edition, also in 8vo format, is offered by a U.K. dealer at $3,024. A New York dealer offers the 1750 set, like mine in full early calf, for $750 -- but with "joints beginning to crack, light rubbing to bindings, and marginal worming in Vol II." My copy is complete in minimally restored original matched bindings, with Trinity College prov... read more

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