Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
. Nude. Original Engraving. , 1794.
Price: US$132.59 + shipping
Description: Engraving from the book: Paradise Lost by John Milton 1794. Print area measures 14cm x 10,5 cm. Original engraving. Engraved by T. Richter after H. Richter. Published August 30. 1794.
Seller: Meiwes, Stuttgart, Germany
John Milton. Paradise Lost: A Poem in Twelve Books. J. & H. Richter, London, 1794.
Price: US$547.51 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Ambitiously produced edition of Milton's epic poem, begun by the Richter brothers in 1794 but completed and published in 1796. With twelve splendid engraved plates and twelve engraved headpieces done by Henry James Richter to accompany each book of Paradise Lost, plus a frontisportrait of Milton. An interesting volume in that Henry's brother John, a radical politician, had been arrested for treason in 1794 and this book, begun as a platform to showcase Henry's artwork, was subsequently dedicated to the Prince of Wales and the brothers wisely chose not to include the customary biography of Milton, an arch republican and apologist for regicide. Recently rebacked with a new spine, using original elaborately decorated boards. Marbled end-papers with matching marbling to page edges. Inner dentelles. 4to. (290x240mm) 493pp. Lacks dedication page. Rubbing to original boards. Very light spotting and offsetting within. Binding tight and contents clean. Good.
Seller: AJ Scruffles, Leigh On Sea, ESSEX, United Kingdom
John Milton. Paradise Lost. H. Richter, London, 1794.
Price: US$850.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Paradise Lost: A Poem, in Twelve Books Milton, John London: Printed for J. and H. Richter by T. Spilsbury and Son 1794 Thick. large quarto ), [title leaf], [4] (A List of the Subscribers, this is found at the end), [2] (section title for Book I), 1-[170], [2] (section title for Book V, aside from one and five all the other section titles are included in the pagination), [171]-493 pp., portrait frontis. engraved dedication leaf with vignette, 12 plates with five of them , , The plates and vignettes, dated 1794-1796, are engraved by J. Richter after designs by Henry Richter; the portrait is engraved from an original by William Faithorne each of the twelve books has a large vignette as headpiece, superb steel engraving, on heavy laid paper, from the library of the noted art dealer, Max Safron of New York. Bound in 19th century superb 3/4 crimson levant morocco and marbled boards, note one scuff to board, one bump to corner, one joint needing repair, else a crisp, internally fine copy in a superb morocco binding.
Seller: Hirschfeld Galleries, Saint Louis, MO, U.S.A.
Price: US$15459.16 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Full-Leather. RARE ORIGINAL 1794 BINDING. Rare Subscription Only Issue, and a FIRST EDITION THUS and in its original leather binding and VERY RARE THUS; possible the only remaining copy in the original issue binding. It is, of course, delicate because of this. Privately printed in 1794, this is an outstanding collectable version of the original great fantasy epic. This is the story that has gone on inspiring generations of imaginary worlds, most notably, in our present time, by the brilliant Philip Pullman with his Dark Materials trilogy. Milton created much of the territory we now expect to find in many fantasy writers; here is the most powerful of all Dark Lords; here is a story with a cursed tree, and an invented cosmology; here are ringing battles of good against evil, with angelic cavalries and vast demonic engines of war. This heavy one volume edition is magnificently illustrated with delicate engravings, and it is beautifully typeset on heavyweight handmade paper. The letterpress is very much of the school that says, 'Good typography should not call attention to itself.' The thick and textured paper is a world away from wood pulp; there is no deterioration, and it is still white and clean. There is an engraved portrait of Milton as a frontispiece, an engraved dedication to the Prince of Wales, who heads the list of subscribers. The full list is then printed. There are 12 superlative engraved plates, and 12 engraved vignettes. 4to., 283 x 228 mm, bound in the original straight-grained morocco. The spine is gilt, with a black rectangle for the title, which is also gilt and surrounded by delicate tooling. There are hand marbled endpapers and the text edges are also marbled. It was published in London by J.& H. Richter, in 1794. First, and only, subscription edition with these extraordinary illustrations. The very fine plates and vignettes were created and designed by H. Richter and engraved by J. Richter, a father and son team who published the work themselves. They were reknowned engravers, and this is their masterpiece. This is a beautifully bound copy, with the most exquisite original patinated tan leather binding. The spine is still pretty firm, although there is some slight distress at the edges, not surprising when you consider the size and age of this superb book. Naturally, along with the signs of age, there is evidence of use, but nothing major or structurally damaging. I have decided against having any restoration work carried out. Too often this takes away more than it restores. I have seen only one other copy of this book. It had been entirely rebound. It was glossy as a racehorse, and firm as a rock, but the new leather took away all the graceful signs of age. Like cosmetic surgery, it made the book look false. I sell this special book with some reluctance, aware that I shall probably not see its like again. I hope whoever buys this will keep its original binding. This is a seminal book of English literature, a key part of the Western tradition of enquiry and questioning. A rare book indeed. 0.0 0.0 0.0
Seller: THE BOOKSNIFFER, Lewes, East Sussex, United Kingdom