Paradise Lost – John Milton – 1802 | Unique Single-Volume Bensley Printing

A bibliographically under-recognized single-volume variant of Paradise Lost, printed in 1802 by Thomas Bensley for a major syndicate of London booksellers. This version contains the complete twelve-book poem, preceded by Elijah Fenton’s “Life of the Author” and Samuel Johnson’s “Critique on the Poem”—the latter of which appears here in full, one of the earliest editions to do so. While commonly encountered in its two-volume Du Roveray issue, this distinct single-volume issue bears a separate title page and imprint, with no mention of Du Roveray, and was evidently distributed through a wider trade channel.

Condition:

Bound in a late-19th century full red leather binding, the volume presents attractively with raised bands, gilt titling on spine, all edges gilt, and marbled endpapers. Though not the original binding, it is a collector’s quality preservation binding. Internally, the book is complete and clean, with all 16 engravings present and well-preserved.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Paradise Lost, In Twelve Books. By John Milton. With A Life of the Author, and A Critique on the Poem.
• Author: John Milton
• Illustrator: Henry Fuseli; William Hamilton
• Engraver(s): James Neagle, Charles Warren, Francesco Barolozzi
• Publisher: Thomas Bensley, Bolt Court, Fleet Street, London
• Edition: New Edition. 1802.
• Format: Octavo, single volume.
• Binding: Full red Morocco leather, raised bands, gilt compartments, marbled endpapers, marbled edges
• Size:  in ×  in ( cm ×  cm)
• Collation: xliii, [1], 420pp; continuous pagination.
• Illustrations: Frontispiece, Engraved title-page and additional 14 engraved plates based on designs by Fuseli and Hamilton
• Contents Include:

• • Life of the Author by Elijah Fenton
  • A Critique on the Poem by Samuel Johnson (complete)
  • Full twelve-book text of Paradise Lost

The book features a suite of engraved plates including a frontispiece portrait of Milton, an ornate engraved title page depicting Adam and Eve, and fourteen additional illustrations based on designs by Henry Fuseli and William Hamilton, engraved by prominent artists such as James Neagle, Charles Warren, and Francesco Bartolozzi. These illustrations reflect the Romantic-era resurgence of deluxe illustrated editions, inspired by Fuseli’s dramatic work for the unsuccessful Milton Gallery exhibition of 1799.

Though typographically identical in core content to the Du Roveray two-volume issue, this trade variant is distinguished by its single-volume format, continuous collation, and alternative engraved title. The clear, modern Roman typeface, generous margins, and hot-pressed wove paper represent hallmarks of fine Romantic-era bookmaking. The presence of the long s, layout choices, and consistent text-block quality support its attribution to Bensley’s highest production standards. Bensley’s presswork displays his status as one of the most skilled printers of the period, rivaled only by William Bulmer.

Why Collect This?

• Virtually absent from the rare book trade and auction records in this single-volume form!
• A significantly rare trade issue of the 1802 Bensley-printed Paradise Lost, distinct from the more frequently catalogued Du Roveray two-volume edition.
• Includes both Elijah Fenton’s biographical essay and Samuel Johnson’s critical commentary, together with a full cycle of Romantic-era engravings after Fuseli and Hamilton.
• A prime example of Thomas Bensley’s high-quality presswork at the height of his printing career.
• For collectors of Milton, early 19th-century illustrated books, and variants of historically significant literary editions.