Beschreibung:

MILTON, John (1608-1674). Poems...both English and Latin, Compos'd at several times . London: Printed by Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Moseley, 1645. Two parts in one volume, 8 o (155 x 94 mm). Section titles to A Mask of the same Author and Poemata . Engraved portrait frontispiece by William Marshall (Lacking initial blank A1, some very minor mostly marginal spotting or soiling.) Contemporary English blind-panelled sheep (few repairs to corners and head of spine); full morocco pull-off case. Provenance : Peter Heimbach (presentation inscription from the author in the hand of an amanuensis: "Viro vere Egregio Poetae Eleganti. Florido Oratori. Acuto Philosopho. P. ab Heimbach. I.C. Amico suo. I. Milton. Auth.") -- early signature dated 1646 crossed-out on title -- T. Fanshaw (signature on frontispiece recto, dated 1709) -- Robert Hoe (bookplate), sold Anderson Auction Co., New York, 1 May 1911, part I, lot 2290 -- William K. Bixby (bookplate) -- Roderick Terry (bookplate), sold Anderson Galleries, New York, 2 May 1934, part I, lot 195 -- Hannah D. Rabinowitz (bookplate) -- purchased from Scribner Rare Books, New York, April 1970. Exhibited : Grolier Club, ' This powerfull rime ,' 1975, no. 14. PRESENTATION COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION OF MILTON'S POEMS . FIRST ISSUE, with "S." omitted in imprint on title. "The work contains all the poems written by Milton up to the date of its publication, with the exception of those 'On the death of a fair infant dying of a cough' and 'At a vacation exercise in the Colledge', both of which appear in the second edition of the poems, 1673. With the exception of 'Lycidas', 'Comus', and the epitaph of Shakespeare, all the pieces were printed here for the first time. It is the first published work of Milton's to bear the name in full" (Grolier). The portrait by Marshall, the first engraved portrait of Milton, professes to represent the poet at the age of 21, yet depicts him in middle age. The satirical Greek inscription was added at Milton's request upon seeing a proof of the portrait, and roughly translates: "Will anyone say that this portrait was the work of an ingenious hand; my friends, looking at my countenance, know not whom it represents, but laugh at the awkward imitation of the stupid artist." Peter Heimbach, to whom Milton presented this copy, was a younger acquaintance of Milton's, who corresponded with Milton and assisted him in book buying matters abroad. He visited Milton in August 1656 before leaving England for Holland, when he may have been presented with this copy of his Poems . The inscription translates: "John Milton, the author, to his friend the truly outstanding gentleman, elegant poet, flowery orator, keen philosopher, Peter von Heimbach, counsellor-at-law." John T. Shawcross, in his note on this copy of Milton's Poems ( Milton Quarterly , Vol. 25, no.3, Oct. 1991, pp. 107-108), suggests this copy may have been inscribed in 1657 rather than 1655-56 as previously thought by Mabbott and French (see Columbia Milton , New York, 1938, no. 15), based on the manner in which Milton addresses Heimbach in letters at various times. In the earlier correspondence he addresses Heimbach as "Adolescenti," however by 1657 he employs the term "Viro." The inscription is in the hand of an amanuensis, since Milton was at the time totally blind. In a letter to Heimbach dated 8 November 1656 Milton writes concerning his return and discusses book matters as well as his blindness: "You have amply fulfilled your promises, my Heimbach, and all the other expectations which your virtue leads one to expect, except for my wish for your return...The lavishness of printers in producing books is now such that the furnishing of a library seems to have become no less expensive than that of a country house. Since painted maps can hardly be of use to me because of my blindness, while I traverse the circle of the world in vain with blind eyes, I am afraid that the more I paid for that book, the more I should seem