Charles II Copy

John Milton
1608–1674

Paradise Lost. A Poem in Ten Books. The Author John Milton.

London: Printed by S. Simmons, and to be sold by S. Thomsonat the Bishops-Head in Duck-lane, H. Mortlack at the WhiteHart in Westminster Hall, M. Walker under St. DunstansChurch in Fleet-street, and R. Boulter at the Turks-Head inBishopsgate street, 1668..

Gift of Caroline Newton, 1970

PML 60558
Description: 

When Charles II was restored to the English throne in 1660, he issued a proclamation calling for two of Milton's books to be publicly burned by the hangman. This is a magnificent association copy, bound in full contemporary red morocco and stamped in gilt with the cipher of Charles II, consisting of crowned Cs and palm leaves in five of the six spine panels. The endpapers also bear a watermark with the arms of Charles II. The royal binding is attributed to Samuel Mearne. The gilt stamped spine reads Paradice Lost, the title as it was entered in the Stationers' Register on 20 August 1667. This copy has the 1667 title page bound, as printed, at the end.