(MILTON, JOHN (1608-1674). Paradise lost. A Poem Written in Ten Books. London, Printed [by Samuel Simons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker... Robert Boulter...and Matthias Walker, 1667.). Lacking title.

4to, c. 180x133 mm., binding 185x135 mm. (338) pp. [A2-A4; a1-a4, A4-Z4; Aa4-Tt4, Vv2.] Lacking title page and preliminary blank leaves. Second leaf defect with loss, throughout worn and darkend, some minor tears, some staining. Loose titlepage in facsimile.
Half leather binding from early 20th century, heavily worn and rubbed, blank spine with damages, split inner joints. Old signature of Alex Hood on fly leaf.

First edition of Milton’s great epic poem "Paradise Lost" which faced an difficult debut as it was published just as London was reeling from the catastrophic Plague of 1665—which claimed the lives of eighty printers—together with the Great Fire of 1666, the city’s publishing industry was in shambles. Because of this widespread devastation, the initial run of 1,200 copies sold slowly. Despite its rocky start, the poem has for centuries been considered Milton's masterpiece and a cornerstone of English poetry.

Provenance: Maggs Bros Ltd, collection of John Ingels and then bequeathed to current owner.
John Ingels (1925-2016) acquired during the years 1960-1984 an extensive collection of writing fragments from antiquity, manuscripts and books. The majority of these have been used in an exhibition context.