Milton, John

Estimate

30,000 - 40,000 USD

bidding is closed

Description

Milton, John
Of Education. To Master Samuel Hartlib. [London: for Thomas Underhill, 1644]
ink, paper, leather

4to (7 x 5 1/2 in.; 180 x 140 mm). Drop title under row of type ornament; outer edge very nicely margined. Red morocco gilt by Riviere.

Provenance

W.A. White (signed in pencil with note "Quaritch in NY, July 1, 1920) — Arthur A Houghton (offset of his bookplate, likely from Rosenbach as this copy was noted by Jackson as in their stock; Christie's London, 11 June 1980, lot 309) — Unnamed consignor (Christie's London, 24 November 1993, lot 48) — Helmut Friedlander (bookplate). acquisition: Bernard Quaritch, 1995

Literature

Wing M2132; Grolier/Wither to Prior 567; Parker Milton p. 885 (listing this as the only copy in private hands); Pforzheimer 715

Catalogue Note

First Edition of one of Milton's scarcest works.

In response to his polymath friend Samuel Hartlib's request, herein Milton seeks to correct "the many mistakes that have made learning generally so displeasing." Milton's chief remedy is a return to the classics and pedagogy (perhaps in the French-style Gentleman's Academies Hartlib was then attempting to set up). Though anonymous, this thin tract's author was known upon its publication.

"As might be surmised from the format, it is now of considerable rarity" (Jackson).