Books

London; 1692, 1688 and 1688: Paradise, printed for Tonson, Regain'd Printed by R.E. and sold by Randal Taylor and Samson printed and sold by Randal Taylor. Quarto. Three works in one volume. 336, 66 and 57 pp. Illustrated with a full-page engraved frontispiece portrait of Milton and 11 (of 12) full page engravings by R. White, M.Burgesse or Burghers, large undecipherable watermarks on virtually every fourth leaf. The first watermark is on the title page; MDX. P. 23 misnumbered 17, short closed tear to bottom of plate after p. 26, small piece torn away at bottom margin of plate before p. 145 not affecting plate, p. 155 with closed tear to outer margin. Early owner's name to upper margin of title page; Mary Lybella Peckham(?) Bound in full contemporary paneled calf gilt, earlier rebacking (preserving the original endpapers) stamped in blind, red Morocco spine label gilt, all edges gilt, corners rounded, corner flourish of the rear panel with loss of gilt, marbled endpapers, previous…

Samson Agonistes is a tragedy by Milton, published in 1671, modeled after Greek tragedy and based on the biblical story of Samson.