1858 Rare Book - Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, Poetical Works of John Milton
Author: John Milton. Illustrated by William Harvey.
Title: The Poetical Works of John Milton.
Publisher: London, George Routledge and Co., 1858.
Language: Text in English, with some Latin poems.
Size: 6.5 x 4.5 inches.
Pages: xlvi-570 pages.
Binding: Very good contemporary full calf binding, warm honey-brown tone, with triple-ruled gilt borders on boards. Spine richly gilt in compartments with floral and geometric tooling, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt. (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown, minor surface wear and gentle rubbing consistent with age - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. All edges marbled. An attractive, solid, and well-preserved 19th-century binding.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing and toning mainly on the plates - as shown, contemporary or near-contemporary prize book inscription and later handwritten note on the blank - as shown).
Illustrations: Complete with all engraved illustrations by William Harvey, including the frontispiece and full-page plates illustrating Paradise Lost, Samson Agonistes, and other major works. Plates are well printed, with good contrast and fine detail.
Estimate: (USD 200–350).
The book: This handsome 1858 Routledge edition gathers the full poetic canon of John Milton, including Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, Samson Agonistes, and his shorter poems, presented in a carefully revised text based on Thomas Newton’s scholarly edition. Issued during the high Victorian period, it reflects the era’s reverence for Milton as a moral, political, and literary monument, while offering an accessible yet dignified format for serious readers and collectors alike. The elegant full calf binding elevates this volume beyond a simple reading copy, positioning it firmly as a library-quality classic.
The author: John Milton stands among the greatest figures of English literature. Best known for Paradise Lost, his work combines profound theological inquiry, political conviction, and extraordinary poetic ambition. Writing during one of England’s most turbulent centuries, Milton shaped the epic tradition in English and left an enduring influence on poetry, philosophy, and political thought.
The illustrator: William Harvey was one of the most accomplished British illustrators of the early Victorian era. His engravings for Milton are admired for their narrative clarity, expressive figures, and dramatic compositions, translating the grandeur of Milton’s verse into powerful visual form. Harvey’s work played a key role in bringing classic literature to a broader 19th-century readership through illustrated editions of lasting aesthetic appeal.