[Binding, Fine- De Sauty, Alfred] Paradise Regain'd. A Poem. In IV Books. To Which is Added Samson Agonistes

London: John Starkey, 1860.

Second Edition. 12mo. 6 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches. A beautiful De Sauty binding on the true Second Edition of Milton's renowned "sequel," in contrast to "Paradise Lost," which was more ornate in style and decorative in its verse, "Paradise Regained" is carried out in a simpler style, reducing poetic devices such as simile and deploying a simpler syntax. Bound in rich late 19th Century brown levant completely covered with a swirling green morocco inlay background on both covers, and with gilt stippling and leafy foliage as well as red morocco inlay buds and brown morocco stems. An extremely intricate and strikingly appealing binding design by de Sauty, for which he was renowned. There are black morocco inlay borders and a central panel of brown levant within a black inlay frame. Spine with six compartments, black inlays in five compartments with geometric gilt fillets, gilt-titling. Signed in gilt by De Sauty on front dentelle. This is an exquisite binding on a historically significant book, with a wonderful provenance, coming from the famous Howard T. Goodwin Sale, known as the collector of the "rarest books and the most sumptuous editions of the works of favorite author," and was considered the "finest collection of books ever offered at public sale at that time. Of De Sauty, Sarah Prideaux notes "his work is of considerable merit. His inlays are distinguished for the taste shown in the association of colors, and his finishing has some of the brilliant qualities of the French school, seen particularly in the finely studded (i.e. pontille) tooling of which he seems particularly fond." With the bookplate of James Cox Brady, signed in the print by the artist, Charles Selkirk, 1908. A fine copy of a most delightfully binding and book.

Price: $5,250.00   Item #6217