John Milton; John Martin - Paradise Lost [24 PLATES] - 1827

DESCRIPTION: I present at auction the monumental FIRST EDITION OF JOHN MARTIN of: "Paradise Lost" from 1827 published in two volumes by Septimus Prowett. The crowning work that consecrated the brilliant Romantic painter and engraver John Martin.

-> 100% Complete Work: It contains the 24 original mezzotint plates, engraved directly by the hand of John Martin.

-> Collectible Rarity: Finding this complete 1827 first edition, preserving its two volumes and all 24 prints with no gaps, is a genuine rarity in the international bibliophile market. Many copies were disbound over the 19th and 20th centuries to sell their engravings individually.

REVOLUTIONARY TECHNIQUE: JOHN MARTIN'S STEEL MEZZOTINT

John Martin not only designed the scenes, but he also etched the steel plates himself, using the complex mezzotint (smoke engraving) technique.

+ Technical Innovation: Martin was an absolute pioneer in engraving mezzotints directly on steel plates rather than copper, allowing him to achieve dazzling chiaroscuro contrasts and an unprecedented fineness of line.

+ Sublime Depth: His deep, velvety blacks and brilliant white highlights capture masterfully the apocalyptic, abyssal, and sublime vision of Hell, Chaos, and Creation as imagined by John Milton.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME OF THE INCLUDED LAMINATES

+ Satan Presiding at Pandemonium / Summoning the Fallen Hosts: Impressive compositions where Satan rises with wings spread, helmet, spear, and shield above incandescent abysses and gigantic mortal caverns.

+ Satan, Sin, and Death: One of the most dramatic and famous scenes of the poem, where Satan confronts the gates of Hell with figures full of anatomical tension and Romantic dynamism.

+ The Meeting of the Angels: Scenes of colossal scale where winged figures of impeccable anatomical design clash in the cosmic gloom.

ABOUT THE WORK AND THE REAL DEDICATION:

+ The Masterpiece: John Milton's Paradise Lost is the greatest epic poem of English literature. John Martin’s 1827 vision is universally regarded as the definitive and most influential graphic interpretation of the poem alongside those of William Blake (1807) and Gustave Doré (1866).

+ Printed Dedication: Includes the formal dedication sheet dated 28 February 1827 addressed to His Majesty King George IV.

+ Impressive Printer’s Mark: End-marked by the renowned printer Thomas White (Johnson's Court, Fleet Street) with his iconic typographic engraving and motto "Te favente virbo".

PROVENANCE AND PERIODALLY HANDWRITTEN NOTES

Contains valuable signatures and handwritten inscriptions in ink from its original nineteenth‑century owners:

"Margaret Emma Kenyon — May 5th 1828"

"Elizth. Shepherd — 7 The Terrace, Kennington Park"

Singular Female Provenance: It is especially noteworthy that both ownership marks belong to women of the early Georgian and Victorian era, a detail of great historical value that documents high‑culture bibliophile female collecting in nineteenth‑century England.

PUBLICATION YEAR: London (England, United Kingdom) 1827. 1st EDITION

LANGUAGE: English (Original Version)

SIZE AND PAGINATION: Dimensions: 29 x 21 cm. Pagination: VOLUME I: [4] + Title + [2] + 228 + [4] pp. VOLUME II: [6] + Title + 218 + [2] pp. COMPLETE WORK WITH ALL 24 PLATES.

CONDITION: Bound in full cloth with hard cover, in good overall condition, with some rubbing and signs of use, as shown in the photos. Smooth spine and leather spine label with gold letters and motifs. The interior is in generally good condition, with some occasional rust spots typical of the paper composition, as seen in the photos. Slight moth holes at the top of the chapter "Book VI", which do not affect the text, as you can see in the images.

RARITY AND HIGHLY COVETED FIRST EDITION. DO NOT LET IT SLIP AWAY. NOW OR NEVER.

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SHIPPING POLICY:

Grouping shipping costs to save you money. Economical shipping with major carriers:

Spain --> via: CTT Express 24h or CORREOS
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China --> via: UPS Express 24h
Rest of World --> via: UPS Express 48h / FedEx Express 48h

*Books will be carefully packaged to travel comfortably to their new home.