Seven Extra-Illustrated, Large Paper Volumes in Beautiful Bedford Bindings, and from Hornby's Library

THE POETICAL WORKS . . . WITH THE PRINCIPAL NOTES OF VARIOUS COMMENTATORS. [with] TODD, HENRY JOHN. SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF JOHN MILTON.

MILTON, JOHN. (HORNBY, C. H. ST. JOHN - HIS COPY).

(London: Printed for J. Johnson, W. J. and J. Richardson, R. Baldwin, Otridge and Son, et al. 1801, 1809). 270 x 170 mm. (10 3/4 x 6 3/4"). Seven volumes. The set complete, plus seven cancelled leaves (the result of textual revision) bound in at the back of vol. IV. First work edited and with a Life of Milton by Rev. Henry John Todd. First Todd Edition of the "Works"; Second Edition of the "Life and Writings."

ESPECIALLY LOVELY OLIVE BROWN CRUSHED MOROCCO, HEAVILY GILT, BY FRANCIS BEDFORD (stamp-signed on verso of front free endpaper), covers with French fillet border, raised bands, spine richly gilt in compartments with central lily sprig within a lozenge of small tools, curling cornerpieces, acorns at sides, gilt lettering, turn-ins with gilt floral roll, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. With three engraved portrait frontispieces (two in volume I, one in volume VII) and EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED with 13 engraved plates, 12 of these those done for "Paradise Lost" by Burney (Proof Impressions) in volumes II and III, the other, of Queen Christina of Sweden, in volume VI. A Large Paper Copy. Front pastedown of volume I with round morocco ex-libris of John Delaware Lewis; front free endpaper of volume I and front pastedowns of other volumes WITH THE BOOKPLATE OF C. H. ST. JOHN HORNBY. Wickenheiser 1795. Insignificant rubbing to extremities, half a dozen leaves with expertly repaired corners or short marginal tears, other trivial imperfections internally, but A VERY FINE AND HANDSOME SET, the text clean and fresh, with spacious margins, and in sparkling bindings that are extraordinarily pleasing on the shelf.

This is a scholarly edition of Milton, very handsomely bound by a leading London workshop, enriched with additional illustrations, and with distinguished provenance. Our edition was edited by the erudite Anglican clergyman Henry John Todd (bap. 1763, d. 1845) and is characterized by DNB as his "magnum opus, a significant feat of scholarship which remained authoritative for fifty years." Todd included selected commentary and notes of earlier editors in addition to his own analysis, and provided what DNB deems "a thorough biographical study of Milton," along with an extensive verbal index to all of Milton's poetry, including the Greek, Latin, and Italian verse. For five years, our binder Francis Bedford (1799-1883) managed the firm of Charles Lewis for the latter's widow and then was in a partnership for 10 years with John Clarke before establishing his own bindery in 1851. He shortly became recognized as the leading binder in fashionable West-end London, and his firm enjoyed prosperity not only until his death, but for 10 years afterwards, under the ownership of Joseph Shepherd. Bedford bindings are almost always elegantly traditional in their design and very handsome in the execution--as can obviously be seen here. This set was once owned by Charles Harry St. John Hornby (1867-1946), bibliophile and a major figure in the Arts & Crafts movement as founder of the Ashendene Press, perhaps the greatest of the English private presses. Hornby printed Milton poems at Ashendene on three occasions. The fourth book of the press (issued in 1896) was "Three Poems of John Milton," containing "L'Allegro," "Il Penseroso," and "Hymn on the Morning of Christ's Nativity." Milton's "Lycidas" was one of "Three Elegies," the 10th book of the press issued in 1899, and "Hymn" was reprinted in 1924 as the Hornby's Christmas gift for friends. (ST19566)

Price: $3,500.00