M[ilton], J[ohn], contrib.

4to (181 x 133mm.), first edition, typographic headpieces, woodcut tailpieces, divisional letterpress title, with one manuscript correction to "Lycidas" in a contemporary hand, "do" corrected to "use" at sig. H4v line 9, purple morocco gilt by F. Bedford with triple gilt fillet border and frame, floral cornerpieces, spine gilt in six compartments, inside dentelles, edges gilt, in a blue chemise and slipcase, tiny holes in B1 and B4 affecting two letters of text, joints rubbed, some small paper repairs, occasional slight spotting

"From Major Pearson's Library", note in Charlemont catalogue, i.e. Major Thomas Pearson (1740?-1781), library sold at auction in 1788; James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont (1728-1799), politician and founder of the Royal Irish Academy, later inscription by Gibbs on front free endpaper and sale in these rooms, 11 August 1865, lot 189; "bought of Boone [London bookdealers active 1728-1872] 13 guineas", pencil note by Gibbs; Henry H. Gibbs, later Lord Aldenham, d.1907, ownership inscription dated 1866, later armorial bookplate, sale of his library, Sotheby's, 22 March 1937, lot 228, to Wells; Frank J. Hogan, book-label, sale of his library, Parke-Bernet, 23-24 April 1946, lot 84; Mrs J. Insley Blair, Blairhame book-label, sale of her library, Sotheby's, New York, 3 December 2004, lot 208 

Grolier, Wither to Prior 555; Hayward 70; Pforzheimer 712; STC 14964; Coleridge 77

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The first appearance in print of Milton's great pastoral elegy, one of the masterworks of English poetry; a beautiful copy with exceptional provenance. The finely-printed volume commemorated a young fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge, Edward King, who had drowned in the Irish Sea in August 1637, and contains poems by friends and colleagues. As well as memorialising a well-loved member of the community, the collection was also an opportunity for Cambridge men to demonstrate their poetic skills, in part in response to a recent Oxford volume of elegies for Ben Jonson (Jonsonus Virbius). Most of the poems are in Latin or Greek, as would be expected in a university production of the period, but there is also a separate section comprising 13 poems in English. The collection ends with one of the most influential poems in the English language, Milton's exquisite and transcendent "Lycidas". 

About 33 copies of Justa Edouardo King survive, but most are in institutional collections and only six copies (including this one) have appeared at auction in the last thirty years. That it has long been a highly desirable book is attested by manuscript notes on the front free endpaper by Henry Gibbs, Lord Aldenham (who also commissioned the current binding), which carefully note the high prices achieved by other copies sold in the late-nineteenth century.

This is one of three known copies of the book with contemporary corrections to "Lycidas". Copies at the British Library (C.21.c.42) and Cambridge University Library (Adv.d.38.5) have the correction found here ("do" to "use") and two others. The corrections in the BL copy are in two hands: "do" is overwritten to "use" in the same hand as in the present copy, and then the same correction has been made again in the margin, along with the two others, in a hand that is usually identified as Milton's. The correction found here is therefore very early, perhaps even made at the print-shop.