EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED ALDINE EDITION OF MILTON'S POEMS, EXQUISITELY BOUND

MILTON, John. The Crown Edition of the British Poets. John Milton. London: British Literary Society, circa 1893. 12mo, contemporary full crimson morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spines and covers with floral designs incorporating blue, green and white morocco inlays, raised bands, green morocco-gilt doublures with red morocco inlays in a floral design, watered silk endpapers, all edges gilt. $2800.

Limited "Aldine Poets" edition of the poems of Milton, number 4 of only 10 extra-illustrated copies with five hand-colored engravings and two original color drawings signed by artist, splendidly bound in full morocco-gilt with multi-colored morocco inlays in floral designs.

“After Shakespeare and Chaucer, John Milton is the most eminent poet in the English language” (Bloom, John Milton, 1). Includes Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, Samson Agonistes, Comus and many shorter works. The "Aldine" edition of British poets, first brought out by the publisher William Pickering beginning in 1830, aimed to introduce scholarly editions of the classics in a smaller, more affordable format. The original color illustrations in this volume are signed "Gabriel" by the artist.

Spines mildly and evenly toned. Fine condition.