AREOPAGITICA. A SPEECH [...] FOR THE LIBERTY OF UNLICENC'D PRINTING, TO THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND.

Description: 4to. - Extremely rare second issue, the first finished in October 1903 was partly destroyed by fire (only the sample copy and 40 unbound copies were saved), consisting of 160 unnumbered copies of which 134 were for sale on Arches hand-made paper. One of the 134 copies on paper. Decorated by Lucien Pissarro with a full-page black ground title border on p. 1, one large initial in red on same page and other smaller in black, all wood-engraved by his wife Esther. Printed in "Brook type" in red and black. "Rather away from all the others is the Eragny edition of Areopagitica, which can be compared interestingly with the Doves Press version. Apart from Johnston's fine opening to the Doves edition, there is more character in Pissarro's printing [...]. The severity of black initials, and spare use of red for shoulder-notes, takes away the customary prettiness from this Eragny work and gives a classical seriousness quite appropriate to the theme and the author [...]" (cfr Franklin, p. 100). Reprint of the 1st ed. of 1644 of the "Areopagitica", celebrated attack on pre-printing censorship in which the poet Milton (1608-1674) defends the freedom of speech and of the press. - Ref. Ransom, Eragny Press, 18. - The gentle art of Lucien Pissarro, 30. - Franklin, pp. 92-102. - Tomkinson, Eragny Press, 19. - Prov. Sir Francis Meynell (1891-1975), British poet and printer at The Nonesuch Press (bookpl. with Pegasus).

Condition: Publisher's binding: half grey paper, beige patterned paper with green and pink design of carnations on covers, gilt-stamped title on front cover, flat spine (spine sl. browned, head & tail def., flyleaves browned). Uncut copy. Artist Name: MILTON, John Circa: March 1904)