Paradise Lost, a Poem in XII Books. [AND] Paradise Regain’d, a Poem in IV Books (…)

Doves Press, Hammersmith, 1902; 1905

A masterpiece by The Doves Press and a great example of contemporary typography and book design. Very attractive copies of 300 each printed on paper from a total edition of 322 copies (22 on vellum each).

Description: Two volumes. Original full limp vellum with title in gilt on spine. Octavo: 24 × 17 cm; pp. 386, [1]. 343, [1]. Printed in black, red and blue on Doves handmade paper, top edge cut, fore and lower edges trimmed. Inner pastedown stamped ‘The Doves Bindery’.

Provenance: From the collection of Max Morgenstern(1883–1946), sold by his heirs in 2016.

Ref.: Cobden-Sanderson 1922, 136–37; Tidcombe DP5, DP7

Condition: The binding next to few, natural irregularities in the grain of the vellum, very good. No browning to endpapers. Internally with occasional spotting to margins of a few leaves, but otherwise very fine copies.

Notes: Paradise Lost was the first major undertaking of the Press, larger than the first four books put together, and the Press’s reputation would rest upon it. In Paradise Lost, Cobden-Sanderson produced his ideal book, a perfect example of what, in 1892, he said a book should be. The opening page is perhaps the finest of any Doves Press book (Tidcombe 2002, 37–41). It was designed by Edward Johnston and cut in wood by C.E. Keates. The four-line initials of books 2–12, in red and blue, were all handwritten by Edward Johnston and Graily Hewitt. The second volume of Milton, Paradise Regain‘d another fine heading was designed by Edward Johnston for the opening page. But to avoid the time-consuming process used for Paradise Lost, the initials were printed.