1827 Rare Beautiful Book Set - Milton’s Paradise Lost, Regained and Poems

Author: John Milton. Illustrated by Richard Westall, engraved by Charles Rolls.
Title: Paradise Lost; Paradise Regained; Samson Agonistes; Comus, Arcades; and Poems on Several Occasions.
Publisher: London, John Sharpe, 1827. Complete in 4 volumes.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Pages: Complete in 4 volumes.
Binding: Exquisite and very good contemporary full green polished calf binding, covers richly bordered in gilt and blind with gilt cornerpieces, spines with five raised bands, contrasting black morocco labels, compartments gilt tooled with ornate decorations, gilt dentelles (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. All edges marbled. A lovely set with a rich, pleasing patina.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight, foxing and toning mainly confined to the engraved plates and illustrated leaves due to paper quality - as shown, text pages remain bright, clean, and fresh throughout, with a charming ex-libris plate of Ann Astaire on the first endpapers - as shown) The bindings are strong, secure, and well-preserved.
Illustrations: Illustrated with 24 fine engravings after Richard Westall, including a frontispiece portrait of Milton composing Paradise Lost.

Estimate: (USD 500–600).

The Book: A beautifully bound 1827 edition of Milton’s works, printed by John Sharpe, featuring Paradise Lost in twelve books, Paradise Regained, Samson Agonistes, Comus, Arcades, and his Minor Poems. Produced in four volumes, this set is enriched with illustrations engraved by Charles Rolls after Richard Westall’s dramatic designs. The bindings, with their deep green patina and fine gilt ornamentation, embody the height of early 19th-century craftsmanship.

The Author: John Milton (1608–1674), one of the greatest figures in English literature, is celebrated for his magnum opus Paradise Lost—an epic poem that redefined the scope of English verse with its profound theological and political themes. His works reflect a blend of humanist learning, Puritan faith, and classical inspiration, securing his legacy as one of the most influential poets of the Western canon.

The Illustrators: Richard Westall (1765–1836), painter and illustrator, was renowned for his literary-themed artworks, including illustrations for Shakespeare, Byron, and Scott. His graceful Romantic style, paired with Charles Rolls’ masterly engravings, lends Milton’s epic poetry both grandeur and intimacy, perfectly suiting the poet’s sublime vision.