London, Septimus Prowett, 1827
John Martin (1789-1854) was an English painter, engraver and illustrator celebrated for his typically vast and dramatic paintings of religious subjects and fantastic compositions, populated with minute figures placed in imposing landscapes. His work for Septimus Prowett was the height of his engraving career and stands as one of the greatest illustrated editions of Paradise Lost ever produced, alongside those of Blake and Doré.
First edition thus; 2 vols, folio (38 x 27.5 cm); half-titles, 24 mezzotint engravings, scattered light foxing, mainly to margins, light offsetting from plates (as often); 19th-century straight-grained maroon morocco gilt, covers with gilt panel with floral tooling within gilt borders, spine in six compartments, gilt lettered direct in second and fifth, others richly gilt with floral tooling, raised bands ruled in gilt, gilt inner dentelles, all edges gilt, corners slightly bumped, slight rubbing heads of spines and extremities, brown endpapers; a very good set.
About us
Shapero Rare Books is an internationally renowned dealer in antiquarian & rare books and works on paper.
Our Bookshop and Gallery can be found in the heart of Mayfair at 106 New Bond Street, where most of our stock is available to view and on public display.
We exhibit at major international art fairs, including TEFAF (Maastricht and New York), Frieze Masters, Art Miami and Masterpiece London, as well as antiquarian & rare book fairs including New York, Paris, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Hong Kong.