Paradise Lost

by Milton, John

Paradise Lost is an epic poem written by John Milton, first published in 1667. Set against the backdrop of Adam and Eve's fall from grace in the Garden of Eden, the poem explores complex themes of sin, free will, and the nature of evil. Milton skillfully crafts vivid imagery and powerful metaphors to depict Satan's rebellion against God, his subsequent expulsion from heaven, and his relentless pursuit of revenge. The narrative follows the interplay between God, Satan, and mankind, with Milton's eloquent verse conveying profound moral and theological reflections. Paradise Lost remains a timeless masterpiece, inspiring readers to contemplate the eternal struggle between good and evil.

First Edition Identification

John Milton’s Paradise Lost was firstly published in 1667, divided into ten books. In the 1674 edition was reorganized into twelve books. 

The first edition of the poem was printed in London by S. Simmons. Simmons issued the first 1,200 copies of the edition over a few years, with varying title pages. By the time the 1,200 copies of the first run had sold out, seven different variations of the title page had been produced, bearing dates of 1667, 1668 and 1669. There is no known relationship between when a given copy of the text itself was printed, and the attached title page, making establishing priority difficult.

In 1668 Milton added a preliminary matter. These include “The Argument,” a description of the program of each of the books, and “The Verse”, where the author defends his use of blank verse. 

First editions were bound in leather, spine paneled with gilt lettering, and gold gilt-edged pages.

Other Collectible or Notable Editions

As a classic work, early editions of Paradise Lost are very valued for book collectors. There are also notable illustrated editions as the one printed in 1905 by Cassell & Company, Limited, with engravings by Gustave Doré depicting scenes from the poem. 

Another scarce and appreciated edition is the one printed by John Barkerville in London in 1758. Original Baskerville binding, bound in his own workshop, with distinct features characteristic of Baskerville’s art.

An example of recent remarkable editions is the one printed by The Arion Press in 2002. A limited edition of 400 copies, full black linen, with gilt-stamped purple morocco title label mounted to the upper spine. This edition pays typographic tribute to earlier editions of Milton's epic poem.

Reviews

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On Apr 9, 2018, Anonymous said

An epic book telling the fall of Man due to the temptation of a fallen Angel Satan. Heaven seems like a soap opera with all the Angel's vying for Gods attention. Seems like the most beautifully decorated Angel Satan throws a jealous fit when God created Mankind, and refuses to bow down to Gods favorite new creation. Satan gets cast down, and tempts Man causing our downfall as well. A wonderful read, and ancient story

Available Copies

Paradise Lost
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Paradise Lost

by Milton, John

Condition
Used - Good Condition
Edition
Fifteenth Edition
Published
1738
Binding
Leather bound with gold decor on the covers
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1
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Silver City, New Mexico, USA
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Paradise Lost was originally published in the year 1667. Early editions such as the one being offered here are very scarce and valuable. This fifteenth edition from 1738 is completely original inside and out. The leather covers show some scuffing, and the gold decor on both front and back covers is still good. There is a former owner's name on… Read more about this item
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Paradise Lost
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Paradise Lost

by Milton, John

Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
1st Edition
Published
1669
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Beverly Hills, California, USA
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$50,000.00

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Simmons, 1669. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. This one of the original 1,200 first edition copies printed in 1667 by the publisher Simmons. Simmons issued the first edition over a few years, adding a different title page from time to time. By the time the 1200 copies of the first run had sold out, seven different variations of… Read more about this item
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$50,000.00
PARADISE LOST; [Bound With] PARADISE REGAIN'D
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PARADISE LOST; [Bound With] PARADISE REGAIN'D

by Milton, John

Condition
Used
Edition
Eleventh Edition, Seventh Edition; First Irish Editions
Published
1724
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Rockville, Maryland, USA
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Dublin: George Grierson, 1724. Eleventh Edition, Seventh Edition; First Irish Editions. Hardcover. Small Octavo, [xii], 315 pages, 61, [24], [24]. In Very Good condition. Bound in contemporary brown leather with 19th century rebacking to spine and paneled with black label and gilt lettering. Front free end paper, frontispiece, Paradise Lost title page loose within and attached to each other… Read more about this item
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$2,000.00
Paradise Lost
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Paradise Lost

by John Milton

Condition
Used - Very Good-
Jacket Condition
no dj
Edition
Thomas Y. Crowell & Company, New York, London,Astor Edition, 189
Published
1892
Binding
Half leather bound, red boards, gold lettering at spine
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Nashua, New Hampshire, USA
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Thomas Y. Crowell & Company, New York, London, 1892. Thomas Y. Crowell & Company, New York, London,Astor Edition, 189. Half leather bound, red boards, gold lettering at spine. Very Good-/no dj. Thomas Y. Crowell & Company, New York, London, Astor Edition, 1892. Very Good, tight, clean, half leather bound, red boards, gold lettering at spine. Small… Read more about this item
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PARADISE LOST
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PARADISE LOST

by Milton, John

Condition
Used
Edition
First Edition
Published
1669
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Rockville, Maryland, USA
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London: Printed by S. Simmons, and are to be sold by T. Helder, at the Angel in Little Brittain, 1669. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo; VG; bound in full morocco, spine paneled with gilt lettering; gilt text block; some wear and rubbing to binding; ffep through page A3 loose; A4, a4, A4-Tt4, Vv2; small hole in middle of leaf Cc3,… Read more about this item
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$40,000.00
Paradise Lost
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Paradise Lost

by John Milton

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
NO DJ as issued
Edition
Franklin Library, Franklin Center, Pennsylvania 1979
Published
1979
Binding
Black Leatherette over boards, gold designs and lettering
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1
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Nashua, New Hampshire, USA
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Franklin Library, Franklin Center, Pennsylvania, 1979. Franklin Library, Franklin Center, Pennsylvania 1979. Black Leatherette over boards, gold designs and lettering. Very Good/NO DJ as issued. With the lustrations of Gustave Dore. 30 full page, black and white Illustrations'.. Paradise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton (1608-1674). The first… Read more about this item
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Paradise Lost
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Paradise Lost

by John Milton

Condition
Used - Very Good
Published
1750
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Moseley, Virginia, USA
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J. and R. Tonfon, 1750. Hardcover. Very Good. THIS COMPLETE TWO VOLUME SET IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION BEAUTIFULLY BOUND IN PUBLISHERS FULL SPECKLED CALF. SPINE HAS SIX COMPARTMENTS AND FIVE RAISED BANDS WITH BRIGHT GILT DETAILS AND TITLE. SOME COSMETIC WEAR TO LEATHER HINGES, BOARDS HOLDING STRONG, SOME SCUFFS TO LEATHER AND REMNANTS OF LABELS SO SPINES… Read more about this item
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$1,500.00
Paradise Lost
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Paradise Lost

by Milton, John

Condition
Used - Original leatherbound boards, chipped and a little cracked; all titling rubbed away; Owner's inscription in copperplate in 1814
Published
1812
Binding
Hardback
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1
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Maidenhead, Berkshire, GBR
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$129.14

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Edinburgh: William Anderson, 1812. hardback. Original leatherbound boards, chipped and a little cracked; all titling rubbed away; Owner's inscription in copperplate in 1814 on second title page. Page block tightly bound (a little loose at front) with some browning but in good condition.. 18mo (170 x 100 / 6_"" x 4""). Milton's great epic poem first published in… Read more about this item
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$129.14
Paradise Lost
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Paradise Lost

by Milton, John

Condition
Used - Very good
Edition
4th edition
Published
1688
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Beverly Hills, California, USA
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London: Flesher, Tonson, 1688. 4th edition. hardcover. Very good. The 4th edition, the first illustrated edition, the large paper copy (15 inches tall), rebound in leather and with the edges of the frontispiece repaired. Published in London in 1688, by Miles Flesher for Jacob Tonson. Engraved Frontispiece with an additional 12 full page engravings, all engravings present. … Read more about this item
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Paradise Lost - A Poem in Twelve Books.
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Paradise Lost - A Poem in Twelve Books.

by 18th century Illustrated Edition of Paradise Lost - Milton, John

Condition
Used
Published
1749
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Skibbereen, IRL
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1749. Two Volumes (complete set). London, Printed for J. and R. Tonson and S.Draper, 1749. Large Quarto (23 cm x 27.5 cm). Pagination of Volume One: Frontispiece-Portrait of a young John Milton, [18 unnumbered pages of Dedication and Preface], LXI pages of "The Life of Milton", [5 unnumbered pages of Homage in Verses by Samuel Barrow [Physician to Charles… Read more about this item
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Paradise Lost.
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Paradise Lost.

by MILTON, John.

Condition
Used
Published
1758
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London, GBR
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$6,457.00

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Birmingham: by John Baskerville for J. and R. Tonson in London,, 1758. The Baskerville Milton First Baskerville edition, among the finest of all editions, here in an elegant and well-preserved contemporary binding in very commendable condition, and extra-illustrated with the celebrated designs of Francis Hayman. The edition was also issued in quarto, which this octavo issue preceded by six… Read more about this item
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Paradise Lost: A Poem in Twelve Books
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Paradise Lost: A Poem in Twelve Books

by John Milton

Condition
Used - Good
Published
1794
Binding
Hardcover
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Leigh-On-Sea, Essex, GBR
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London: J. & H. Richter, 1794. Hardcover. Good. Henry James Richter. Ambitiously produced edition of Milton's epic poem, begun by the Richter brothers in 1794 but completed and published in 1796. With twelve splendid engraved plates and twelve engraved headpieces done by Henry James Richter to accompany each book of Paradise Lost, plus a frontisportrait of Milton.… Read more about this item
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PARADISE LOST: A POEM IN TWELVE BOOKS
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PARADISE LOST: A POEM IN TWELVE BOOKS

by MILTON, John [With Rev. H. STEBBING]

Condition
Used
Edition
Very Early Edition. A scarce vintage edition of this classic
Published
1853
Binding
12mo., embossed green cloth, gilt-worked spine; 312 pages
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1
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Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA
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Philadelphia: Troutman & Hayes, 1853. Very Early Edition. A scarce vintage edition of this classic. 12mo., embossed green cloth, gilt-worked spine; 312 pages. With Explanatory Notes And A Life Of The Author By The. Rev. H. Stebbing.. Very Good (some sunning spine & edges, one lower corner bumped; contents tight with some scattered foxing). The former owner has penciled… Read more about this item
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$150.00
Paradise Lost
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Paradise Lost

by Milton, john

Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
5th or later Edition
Published
1691
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Beverly Hills, California, USA
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Bently and Tonson, 1691. 5th or later Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Richard Bently and Jacob Tonson,1691. Fifth edition. Missing all plates except the frontispiece. Some tears on pages throughout. Small pieces missing on corner of some pages. Small cut-out at middle of page on right side from p.175 for four pages. Paper tape on front and rear inside… Read more about this item
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Paradise Lost
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Paradise Lost

by John Milton

Condition
Used - Good
Published
1906
Binding
Cloth
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1
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BATH, Somerset, GBR
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$251.82

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Liverpool: Liverpool Booksellers' Co., Limited, 1906 . Cloth. Good. 10.5" by 7.5". William Blake. A scarce illustrated edition of Milton's Paradise Lost with colour plates by William Blake. Scarce edition of Paradise Lost by John Milton in the original publisher's quarter cloth binding. With twelve colour plates by William Blake. Collated, complete.From the library of Oliver Elton, an… Read more about this item
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$251.82
Paradise Lost: A Poem in Twelve Books
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Paradise Lost: A Poem in Twelve Books

by John Milton

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
No jacket
Published
2002
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Berkeley, California, USA
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$750.00

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The Arion Press, 2002. Hardcover. Fine/No jacket. #23/400cc. In faded slipcase.
Item Price
$750.00
Paradise Lost: A Poem in Ten Books.

Paradise Lost: A Poem in Ten Books.

by Milton, John

Condition
Used
Published
1669
Quantity Available
1
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Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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$45,000.00

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London: Printed by S. Simmons, and are to be sold by T. Helder, at the Angel in Little Brittain, 1669.
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$45,000.00
Paradise Lost
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Paradise Lost

by John Milton

Condition
Used - Very good
Jacket Condition
Very good
Published
1800
Binding
Leather Bound
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1
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New York, New York, USA
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London: Cassell, Petter & Galpin, 1800. Leather Bound. Very good/Very good. Gustave Doré. Gustave Doré. Leather Bound. H: 17 1/4", D: 14 1/4", W: 3" 1 Volume. John Milton, Paradise Lost. Bound in full black morocco with the covers and raised band spines displaying gilt and open-tooled detailing. All edges are gilt with gilt-tooled tern-ns and marbled endpapers.… Read more about this item
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Paradise lost. : A poem, in twelve books. / The author John Milton. From the text of Thomas Newton

Paradise lost. : A poem, in twelve books. / The author John Milton. From the text of Thomas Newton

by Milton, John (1608-1674)

Condition
Used
Edition
First Edition
Published
1759
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Galway, IRL
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$390.00

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Birmingham : Printed by J. Baskerville for J. and R. Tonson in London, 1759. First Edition. Hardcover. Poor copy bound in in the original leather binding, boards present but detached. Wear and tear as with age. Text remains well preserved overall; bright and clean. Physical description; 416 pages. Notes; A Baskerville imprint. Subjects; Milton, John 1608-1674). 17th century Texts.… Read more about this item
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$390.00
PARADISE LOST: A POEM IN TWELVE BOOKS
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PARADISE LOST: A POEM IN TWELVE BOOKS

by Milton, John

Condition
Used
Edition
Limited Edition
Published
2002
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1
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Stephenson, Virginia, USA
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San Francisco: The Arion Press, 2002. Limited Edition. One of 400 copies. Octavo; full black linen, with gilt-stamped purple morocco title label mounted to upper spine; publisher's matching black linen slipcase; [vi],vii-xxxiv,396,[1]pp. Trivial external wear, else Fine in a Fine slipcase. Edited and with a note on the text by John T. Shawcross, with an introduction by Helen Vender.… Read more about this item
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$1,000.00