Comus, a Mask
London: John Hughs for Robert Dodsley, 1738. Cloth. The 1st edition of John Dalton's adaptation of Milton's masque Comus. The original version, an important early work, was only performed once in Milton's lifetime. The music, as is noted on the title page, was the work of the baroque composer Henry Lawes (1595-1622), who also performed in the masque. The text was published anonymously in 1637; Milton then included it in his "Poems" of 1645 & 1673. Octavo, Roman and italic types. Woodcut initial cartouches, headpieces and culs-de-lampe. The two errata, on pg. 16 & 22, corrected in manuscript. Modern brown cloth, spine lettered in gilt, early green paper wrappers (which are titled in ink) bound in. Provenance: Wynne Edwin Baxter (1844-1920; English lawyer, antiquarian and botanist; noted coroner --he conducted the inquests into the deaths of many of the victims in the Whitechapel murders of 1888-1891; noted collector of Milton; bookplate on front pastedown). Very Good +. Item #11704
Price: $1,000.00