Lot 125
Milton, John
Rare Books, Maps & Manuscripts
Auction: 15 January 2014 at 11:00 GMT
Description
Eikonoklastes... London: printed by Matthew Simmons, 'published by Authority', 1649. First edition, small 4to, nineteenth century calf tooled in blind with gilt leaf motifs to corners, first blank lacking, gift inscription to endpaper, rubbed [ESTC R202156, Wing (CD-Rom, 1996), M2112]; [Gauden, John - Charles I of England, attr.] Eikon basilike. [London?: n.p.], 1649. 8vo, folding frontispiece portrait, engraved royal coat of arms, nineteenth century red morocco, gift inscription to endpaper, occasional light dampstaining, rubbing [ESTC R34429, Wing (CD-ROM, 1996), E307] (2)
Footnote
Note: Published shortly after the execution of Charles I, John Milton's Eikonoklastes seeks to justify Parliament's action. The work was written as a response to Eikon Basilike, which sought to portray Charles I as a martyr. Following the Restoration, a proclamation by Charles II demanded that all copies of Eikonoklastes be burned. However, despite a pubic book burning, the proclamation did not altogether distract readers from the book, and another edition was published in 1690 following the ascension of William and Mary to the throne.