[Milton- First Bskerville Edition-EXTREMELY RARE, BOUND BY BASKERVILLE: ORIGINAL TWO-VOLUME BINDING] Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained

London: John Baskerville, 1758.

First edition. Two Volumes. An extremely scarce, original Baskerville binding, bound in his own workshop, with distinct features characteristic of Baskervilleís art and technique, especially the floral roll and his types stamped to spine. As well, the provenance of this book links it directly to Baskerville. This copy is Everard Homeís Copy (with his bookplate). Home was the brother-in-law of John Hunter (who was also his teacher), and Hunter was the brother of William Hunter whose Anatomy of the human gravid uterus was published by Baskerville in 1774. Hunter was also a subscriber of Baskervilleís Milton. It is likely this copy came from Hunter. We have verified through Aurelie Martin, the foremost scholar on Baskerville bindings, that this must indeed be a Baskerville binding. Martin states, ìBaskerville hired one or two binders around 1758 to bind some of his editions and produce a decorated paper. The majority of these bindings will have this distinctive decorated paper, but some of the very early Milton bindings do not; and they usually have this comb marbled paper [i.e. found our copy]. As well, the edges are usually sprinkled in blue on these few examples [which appears on our copy]. So your two-volume Milton comes from his workshop, as confirmed by the types used to title the spine of his books and other tools found on the spine (such as the little acorn and the triangular one in the angles of the compartment). Gaskell first noted that Baskerville used his own types to tool the titles on the spine of his bindings and this is confirmed on your copies. Finally, the endbands also correspond to those I have found so far (the color may vary of course, but they have the same number and type of threads). Attractively bound in early full polished calf with border gilt designs on all covers, gilt decorated panels on spine, with two morocco labels (one red, one black) with gilt lettering. The scarce first Baskerville edition. "Paradise Lost. A Poem in Twelve Books. The Author John Milton From the Text of Thomas Newton D.D. Birmingham," with lengthy preface and list of subscribers, 416pp; "Paradise Regain'd A Poem in Four Books To Which is Added Samson Agonistes: and Poems upon Several Occasions," also including "The Life of Milton" LXIX pp. and 390pp. All edges stippled in blue. A wonderful set, with some expert cover repair to spines; Vol. 2 with longitudinal split along spine, but repaired. Near fine internally. Everard Home's Copy, with his bookplate of knight's head affixed to both volumes. Home (1756-1832) was a well-known baronet and physician who is best remembered as the first to describe the fossil "Ichthyosaur." A great rarity.

Price: $5,500.00   Item #4228