Autograph: John Milton, 1667.

Autograph: Agreement between John Milton, gentleman, and Samuel Symons, printer, for the sale to the latter of the copywright of 'a poem intituled Paradise lost', the poet to receive £5 in hand, with a further payment of £5 on the completion of the sale of each of the three editions, to consist severally of not more than 1,500 copies and to be accounted as at an end when 1,300 copies have been sold. 27 April 1667. Signature: John Milton, and seal of his arms, a double-headed eagle displayed. Milton at this time was totally blind, and the signature is evidently not in his own hand, but was written for him and certified by the impress of his finger and by his seal. English poet, polemicist and civil servant for the Commonwealth of England, 9 December 1608-8 November 1674. Source: British Museum. For the history of the document see D. Masson's 'Life of John Milton', vol. Vi., 1880, p. 511.