Author: JOHN MILTON
Title: The Poetical Works of John Milton, with a Life of the Author by William Hayley.
Description: John & Josiah Boydell, and George Nicoll, 1794 - 97. 3 volumes. Folio, 435 x 340 mm. [page size 415 x 315 mm.] pp. cxxxiii, [6], 213> [1, presentation page to The Reverend Gerrard Thomas Andrewes], 286> 300: 4 portraits of Milton including the one of Milton and his daughters after George Romney, 28 fine large plates after Richard Westall. Bound in full red morocco, gilt, by [Joseph Stuart] Evans of London> all edges gilt, elaborately decorated incorporating a coat of arms and motto 'Fear God and be Merry', presumed to be that of the recipient of the set in 1846. An exceptionally large copy with very wide margins in a magnificent presentation binding by Evans of London. The recipient, The Reverend Gerrard Thomas Andrewes, was obviously overlooked for the position of Rector of St. James' Westminster, and his parishioners, having failed in their entreaties to the Bishop of London, gifted this magnificent binding to him. The gilt presentation on the cover of the first volume, repeated in a specially typeset page, hints at their feelings towards the decision. The Reverend Gerrard Thomas Andrews was probably the son of Gerrard Andrewes who had been rector of the Parish until his death in 1825.

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