Milton, John | First collected edition of Milton's poems and the first to bear his name

From the Library of Clayre and Jay Michael Haft

Milton, John

Poems of Mr. John Milton, both English and Latin, compos'd at several times. London: Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Moseley, 1645

8vo (151 x 92 mm). Part II with separate title and pagination. Engraved frontispiece portrait by William Marshall; frontispiece with vertical tear near gutter reinforced on verso, without the preliminary blank, closely trimmed occasionally shaving a page number. Modern speckled calf to style.

First collected edition of Milton's poems and the first to have his name on the title.

Milton considered the portrait—according to Granger the first published print of the author—such a poor likeness that he insisted on the Greek inscription proclaiming it so to be added underneath. It translates in part, "... laugh at the awkward imitation of the stupid artist ..." The present copy is the variant with no "S" in the imprint, but no priority has been established.

A work seldom found in a contemporary binding, all but "Lycidas," "Comus" and the epitaph on Shakespeare were printed here for the first time.

REFERENCE:

Wing M 2160; ESTC R202162; Grolier/Wither to Prior 572; Hayward 71; Pforzheimer 722