1679 / 1978 JOHN BUNYAN. Pilgrims Progress - Paradine Limited Edition Facsimile of 150 - Uncirculated.

It has been a long time since a true first edition of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress has come to market. A third edition sold at Sotheby's now 7 years ago for over $100,000.00. A first edition if offered today would likely fetch in the $300,000-$500,000 range, though it is the third that contains the final "additions" that compose the complete work we know today, and thus the edition chosen here to memorialize Bunyan's masterpiece.  Produced by David Paradine at extravagant cost to celebrate the 300 year anniversary of the first edition, he partnered with printer Kingprint Ltd and one of the finest binderies in England, David P. Gray of Cambridge. Together they created a special, limited edition of just 150 copies. Printed on hand-laid paper, hand-sewn, beautifully gilt foredges in 24 carat gold, then bound in deep green calf with raised bands, gilt dentils, and hand-dyed endpapers. It is the finest facsimile of the first complete edition of Bunyan's "immortal tale" ever produced or avail