Paradise Lost.

illustrated with engraved plates

The fifth edition overall of Milton's blank verse epic retelling the story of the Fall of Man, and the second to be illustrated with engraved plates by the Anglo-Dutch artists Michael Burghers (1647/8-1727) and Peter Paul Bouche (fl.1685-1702).

Before his death Milton had reorganised the work into 12 books, consciously adopting the division used by Virgil in the Aeneid, and thereby making 'explicit the parallel with the epics of classical antiquity' to which he had always aspired (ODNB).

A lovely example in contemporary mottled calf richly decorated in gilt. With provenance for the Cholmondeley family of Condover Hall, and the British Liberal part MP Allan Heywood Bright (1862-1941).

Fifth edition, adorn'd with sculptures; folio (32 x 20 cm); engraved portrait frontispiece, 12 further engraved plates (one for each book), slight staining to B1 recto, a little toned, later endpapers preserving earlier bookplates to front pastedown; contemporary mottled calf, covers with triple gilt roll border incorporating motifs of fleurs-de-lys, tulips and acorns, gilt spine in 7 compartments, contrasting red morocco lettering-piece to second compartment, all edges gilt, slightly rubbed and abraded, joints a little split at spine ends but holding, neatly conserved, very good; [4], 336pp.

ESTC R42173; Wing M2149.