New-York tribune., 1908-11-29
MILTONIANA AT
LENQX LIBRARY
EARLY EDITIONS OF
"P4R4DISE LOST.
Nine Copies of First-RTe Er-
ampIes of Other Works-Many
Portraits of the Poet.

All who have read Paradise Lost" and other
works Of John Miltcn will find genuine pleasure
in the collection Of the poets works which have
been placed OF view in the Lenox Library In oo-
servance OF the tercentenaTy of Miltons births
December 9. The collection, which anoros q COM
rrehensive idea OF the great poets life, includes
Abou. hundred and fifty portraits OF him. IN
addition 10 one hundred more early copies OF
his works Unfortunately, however. number OF
The best prints included in rare works on tns
fife OF the poet and cannot be readily got at for
display purposes. The exhibition VIII remain On
view q month longer.
Some Of the copies Of the works shown arc now
Of great value for the eternal contest Of collectors
has served TO make first and second editions OF
Paradise Lost and the first editions OF Milton
minor poems worth g great price Paradise LOST
On its first appearance was clearly not among the
best sellers OF the day. The first edition, winch
was In ten books sold SO slowly that II wsS seven
years before there demand for the secona
edition which got out IN twelve books Among
the collectors edition, which has the vary
ing title pages eight separate bindings Is highly
priced II is that thirteen hundred copies
of the poem sold in eighteen months ana
that Milton received from his publishers for TINS
work which was destined 10 occupy so high place
IN the literary world the rnunihcent sum OF fla
OF tbs equivalent about 34s 60 in United States
money.
Included in the collection on view at the Lenox
library ere nine copies Of the first edition. each
with some slight variation Of the title page .ols-
tinglIishing the others. The collection IN
cludes 2 COPY Of the first edition, printed in le4o
having for its frontispiece the portrait OF uhe
1noet Al the age of tpenty-one. which executed
by William Marshall, and 10 which Milton TOOK
such a violent dislike that he is said TO nave
penned the Greek inscription accompanying IL
which has been translated follows:
VIII any one say that the portrait was the Work
Of an ingenious hand; my. very friends looking at
my own natural countenance know not whom II
represents but laugh at the awkward imitation OF
the idiotic artist"
RARE EDITION OF "EIKoNoCLASTES. .
Among the rare copies displayed with the books
zre early editions OF Millions ''Ekonoclastes" and
Defence Of the English People which were pre-
served from the general destruction Of these works
ordered by Charles Il The Kings proclamation
of August I3, 1850 ordering the burning OF the
books by the common hangman, is also shown
There is a highly prizeG copy Of the first edition
Of 'Cornus" and copies of The Tenure OF Kings
and Magistrates,' and early edition OF Inc
Doctrine and the Discipline OF Divorce are IN
cluded in tne collection. along with several books
sesd TO have been part Of the poets own library.
On the blank page OF one of these is sonnet said
70 be in Millions handwriting and signed with the
Initials -. M
Among the portraits are one showing Milton az
The age Of ten. several fanciful sketches OF his
childhood copies OF the portrait by Marshall or the
poet at the age OF tWenty-one, and number OF
others based the OnslOw portrait. which mas
lisaDpeared There Milton at twenty-five ana
Eilton al forty-two, and Milton by Robert White.
William Faithorne and other artists, ana proni0
e,tiy displayed several copies Of the familiar
portrait Of Milton a the age OF sixty-two, exc
cuted by George Yertue, who, according to Beverly
Chew produced portraits OF Milton than
any other engraver OF his tE-e or, IN fact OF any
other period This particular portrait is generally
accompanied by Dryden's tribute to Milton:
Three Poets three distant ages born,
Italy and England did adorn
The first IN Iofriness OF thought surpass q,
The Next IN Majesty in both the Last
The force Of Nature cOU'd no further goe;
To make q third she joyned the former Two.
group of interesting pictures Of the blind poet
debating Paradise Lost his daughters as con-
ceived by various artists OF the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries. forms division OF the ex-
hibit. including a copy Of the painting by Mum
kacsy. The original Of which hangs IN the LenoI
library. Pictures Of MiltOn's cottage at Chalfont
also shown, S well g OF the bronze statue OF
the poet erected ST. Giles, Cripplegate, London
Copies OF thu works Of Milton from the collection
OF the s. = Tflden form division OF the
sxhibit, and in another grouped collection OF
spurious and doubtful portraits Of the poet.