Description
RARE 1770 EDITION OF JOHN MILTON’S “PARADISE LOST” ILLUSTRATED by E HAYMAN
A Treasured 18th Century Masterpiece in Contemporary Leather binding
A historic London Edition from 1770 – a remarkable 255-year-old literary artefact
With a Complete Set of Engravings – a frontispiece portrait of Milton plus 12 stunning plates by cele-brated artist E. Hayman. It comes with its original Period Binding – full brown leather with a spine
Documented Provenance – early ownership inscriptions including “M. Oldfield” and later “A. Frenck”
12mo Format – an elegant and desirable collector’s size
This distinguished volume presents an authentic period condition with characteristics that testify to its journey through time. The contemporary full brown leather binding shows graceful ageing with ex-pected wear to the spine, some surface loss, and subtle splitting to the hinges that do not compromise the book’s integrity. Internally, the pages display the warm patina of age with light spotting primarily confined to the final leaves. The spine might have had a leather replacement.
The magnificent Hayman engravings remain crisp and expressive, with only minimal offsetting—a re-markable state of preservation for illustrations of this period. The text block is sound and complete, free from any significant defects or missing elements.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Milton’s epic poem on mankind’s fall from grace remains one of the pillars of English literature. This particular edition represents an important milestone in the publication history of “Paradise Lost,” produced during a period of renewed interest in Milton’s works and enhanced by Hayman’s interpretive artistry that helped visualize this cosmic narrative for 18th-century readers.
COLLECTOR’S ASSESSMENT:
Rarely do we encounter complete copies of this edition with all plates intact and in their original bind-ing. This volume offers an exceptional opportunity to acquire a significant Milton edition that com-bines literary importance, artistic merit, and authentic 18th-century book production.
A distinguished addition to any collection of English literature, antiquarian books, or fine illustrated works of the Georgian era.
We welcome inquiries from serious collectors and institutions. Additional photographs are available upon request.
Most objects sold in our gallery are antiques, vintage or used, therefore, they will show signs of being antique, vintage or used. There may be signs of scratches, discolouration, chips, cracks, wear and tear, unknown manufacturers and/or patterns. Please see the photographs as they form part of the descrip-tion. Overseas buyers in some countries may have to pay any import duties, taxes, or fees that may apply. All items are meticulously wrapped and prepared for both international and UK shipping.
