Milton's Paradise Lost. Illustrated by Gustave Dore. Edited, with Notes and A Life of Milton, by Robert Vaughan. London: Cassell, Petter, and Galpin, c.1866 [not after August 1868], folio.
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An attractive example of the famous Gustave Dore edition of Milton's Paradise Lost in large folio format in a beautiful contemporary fine half morocco binding. There is a gift inscription to the ffep dated August 1868, and so this edition naturally predates that, and other sources suggest a printing date of 1866 for this edition, not to be confused with the less desirable, generally a bit smaller, later 1870s and 1880s editions.
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Size: 327 x 434 mm (approx.)
Condition:
Contemporary half morocco over marbled paper backed boards, rubbed, marbled paper scuffed with loss, shelf and edge wear, spine uniformly sunned but very attractive indeed on the shelf, both tooled red morocco labels extant. Minor discolouration. Both boards are securely attached, the binding is secure and stands without shelf lean. All edges gilt. Hinges secure, not cracked. No attached bookplates, original marbled endpapers and pastedowns present. Gift inscription to front free endpaper verso dated August 31st 1868, given to "Walter E Crum" (evidently not the famous translator as he would have been three years old). Half title and general title with vertical crease. Foxing to endpapers and titles. Generally bright and clean throughout the text block. Tissue guards for the illustrations toned as typical, mild scattered foxing/spotting, but largely very clean.
