Posted 12 years ago
Twinpanic
(2 items)
I have had these books for a while an forgot about them, and I stumbled on them in the basement the other day. I think they were printed in 1750 but I'm not too sure. I'm no expert on books and would appreciate any information on these books and if they are worth anything. Thanks!
There's another set on ebay at the moment and you could watch it's progress.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1750-JOHN-MILTON-PARADISE-LOST-2VOL-SET-CONTEMPORARY-CALF-GILT-BINDINGS-/380395636626#ht_7854wt_1165
The second edition was originally printed in 1674 with some rearrangements made by Milton of the first edition.
Yours is a 1750 edition of the second edition. In 1750 there were four different versions printed of the second edition. Two were printed in Glasgow and another in Oxford and this one in London.
Description is: a two volume set of John Milton's 'Paradise Lost' printed in London for J. and R. Tonson et al, 1750. This the Second Edition with notes by Thomas Newton.
8vo, bound in period quarter calf gilt.
The contents collation:[24], lxxxv, [29], 510; 456, [210] pp, with the portrait frontispiece and 12 engraved plates.
Check that it has those 12 plates as well as the portrait you've shown.
In the second volume you'll see that it includes the name, T. Longman, and omits J. New to the list of those for whom it was printed.