BAUMAN RARE BOOKS 14 07MILTON, John. Poems, &c. Upon Several Occasions. London, 1673. Small octavo (4-1/2 by 6-1/2 inches), 19th-century full dark purple crushed morocco gilt, custom clamshell box. $8500 First expanded edition of Milton’s Poems, initially printed in 1645, with over 40 poems “printed here for the first time,” including the first printing of Sonnet XVI, the first sonnet to refer to Milton’s blindness; the Chevalier copy, handsomely bound by Roger de Coverly & Sons. “After Shakespeare and Chaucer, John Milton is the most eminent poet in the English language… No other great poet, not even Dante, began with so clear and systematic an intention to devote himself entirely to poetry” (Bloom, John Milton, 1). This edition, “doubtless authorized by Milton,” is the first expanded edition of the earlier collection titled Poems of Mr. John Milton (1645). Containing all the works therein, this scarce volume also includes “a number of poems here printed for the first time” (Wither to Prior 573). Notably, this edition features the first printing of Sonnet XVI, the first published sonnet to refer to Milton’s blindness and especially memorable for its final line—“They also serve who only stand and waite.” With Pforzheimer’s second state title page containing “Blew Anchor” in its imprint. “The title is otherwise from the same setting as the [first state] and the alteration was evidently made while the first sheet was still in the press” (Pforzheimer). Wing 2161A. Bookplates of notable collectors Templeton Crocker and Paul Edward Chevalier; small modern “SCM” label. Contents overall clean, faint waterstaining to a few upper outer corners. A stunning, finely bound copy. “After Shakespeare And Chaucer, John Milton Is The Most Eminent Poet In The English Language”
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