Quarto. (vi) (40)pp. Frontispiece portrait of Milton from a wood engraving by Barry Moser, who signs at the colophon. Printed in two colors throughout, the body text composed in 12 point descender Janson italic, with running heads set in Merrymount "Dutch" type, and the title page set in display type cast from matrices made for the two-line initials drawn by W.A. Dwiggins - both of these used in the Merrymount Book of Common Prayer of 1928. The text is framed with double rules printed in red. Originally published in 1644 during the English Civil War, Milton's famous defense of a free press specifically took aim at the Licensing Order passed by Parliament the previous year. The legislation required authors to receive state approval before any work could see publication, which allowed the government to stifle dissent. Although Milton's argument against licensing did not have an immediate impact, the Order was dropped in 1695; however, the text has endured - serving as the basis for several U.S. Supreme Court decisions involving First Amendment cases. Bound in full deep red Niger morocco by Gray Parrot, with title in gilt on upper cover, with double rules tooled in black on both covers; brown morocco lettering piece on spine. A very fine copy of a handsome typographic edition.