Paradise Lost. A Poem in Twelve Books

John Milton

Published by S. Simmons, 1674

About this Item

"Paradise Lost. A Poem in Twelve Books" by John Milton. 1674, The second edition, revised and augmented, London: printed by S. Simmons next door to the Golden Lion in Aldersgate-street, 1674, [8] 333 [1] pp., without portrait frontispiece, final leaf of text and final blank leaf, with final leaf of text provided in later manuscript facsimile (18th century?), title with 2 ownership signatures of Richard Taylor (one dated 1800) and with faint ink line marks to title and repair to upper outer corner, light worm trails to A1-C2 (mostly to fore-edge blank margin), H7 with rust hole to one letter of running title, Q3 with small hole & printing fault affecting few letters, few minor ink marks and some browning mostly to margins, some light dust-soiling, modern good quality antique-style calf, calf title label to spine. In this second edition the number of books in the poem has been increased from ten to twelve by dividing Books VII and XII into two each, and by adding three new lines to the beginning of Book VIII, and five new lines to Book XII. The "Argument" . is also divided, and the separate parts prefixed to the books to which they severally apply. Milton's nephew, Edward Phillips, in his "Life of John Milton", 1694, states that these changes were made at Milton's direction' (Grolier). The second edition is also important for containing Andrew Marvell's commendatory poem 'On Paradise Lost'. According to ESTC the frontispiece is not found in all copies. Rare second edition of John Milton's masterpiece. Seller Inventory # ABE-1608244946433

Bibliographic Details

Title: Paradise Lost. A Poem in Twelve Books

Publisher: S. Simmons

Publication Date: 1674

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Good

Edition: 2nd Edition.