25 parts, folio (343 x 267 mm). (Minor marginal spotting to preliminary leaves of part 1, upper corner dampstained in part 13, spotting throughout part 25.) Original blue printed wraps, many pages unopened throughout (soiling to front cover of part 1, some toning, very minor marginal soiling and rubbing to spines); folding case.

JOHN MILTON'S EPIC POEM PARADISE LOST WITH LARGE-FORMAT ILLUSTRATIONS BY GUSTAV DORÉ, RARE IN THE ORIGINAL PARTS.

Paradise Lost is an epic poem by John Milton, first published in ten books in 1667. A second edition was issued in 1674, its text expanded to fourteen books, and numerous reprintings followed. Gustave Doré was approached to create illustrations for a new edition to be published by Cassell, Petter, Galpin, & Company after the Doré Bible was issued in 1865. "None can dispute the fact that here, as in all other works he has attempted to interpret, Doré stands as a giant among his contemporaries and predecessors" (New York Times).

EXCEEDINGLY RARE: According to online records, we trace only one other copy of Paradise Lost in the original parts sold at auction.