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45 FREDERICK II, King of Prussia. Anti-Machiavel: or, an examination of Machiavel’s Prince. London: printed for T. Woodward, 1741 frederick the great’s mirror for princes First edition in English. Written by Frederick the Great shortly before coming to power and published soon after, the Anti-Machiavel is a point-by-point refutation of Machiavelli’s The Prince and its principles. Frederick writes of The Prince “I have always looked upon that work as one of the most dangerous that ever appeared in the world” (p. vi), and instead promotes a vision of kingship based on “justice, prudence and goodness” (p. x). Edited by his friend Voltaire, and first published in French in 1740, the treatise was praised throughout Europe and established Frederick’s reputation as an enlightened leader. Frederick’s authorship was widely known even if not stated in the book. Within a year of coming to power Frederick invaded neighbouring Silesia, ignoring all the principles of his own book, beginning a long reign marked by wars and international power struggles, with Prussia remaining both an absolute monarchy and militarized society. “It was entitled the Anti-Machiavel , and was an edifying homily against rapacity, perfidy, arbitrary government, unjust war, in short, against almost everything for which its author is now remembered among men” (Macaulay, p. 797). Nonetheless, Frederick then and since retained a reputation as an “enlightened despot”, to which the Anti-Machiavel contributed a great deal. Octavo (203 × 129 mm). Contemporary calf, spine gilt in compartments with recent red morocco label to style, sides with double gilt rule border, red edges. Complete with 2 terminal advertisement leaves. Joints and extremities neatly restored, gilt retouched, light foxing to contents. A very good copy. ¶ ESTC T136840; Bertelli & Innocenti, Bibliografia Machiavelliana (18th century) 44. ¶ Thomas Babington Macaulay, Essays and Lays of Ancient Rome , 1895. £3,500 [157324]
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First edition, primary impression in quarto, of the only lifetime collection of Franklin’s writings aside from scientific works, many of the papers herein being attributed for the first time. The edition was afterwards re-impressed in octavo format, in which form the book is generally encountered; this initial quarto form is naturally much more desirable and scarcer in commerce. The collection was edited by Franklin’s close friend, the British diplomat and political reformer Benjamin Vaughan, with Franklin’s approval and assistance (Franklin contributes a seven-page “Addenda and Corrigenda”). Vaughan was to be a vital voice of reason during the peace negotiations in Paris which ended the American Revolutionary War, mediating between Franklin and Lord Shelburne, for whom he acted as a confidential adviser and private secretary. To judge from contemporary reviews, the book met a favourable reaction from the British audience despite the ongoing war. Franklin’s scientific papers were published in collected editions in the 1750s; some of those are also included here. Quarto (231 × 175 mm). Contemporary half calf, red morocco label and gilt monogram to spine, marbled sides. Portrait frontispiece and 3 other plates, one of them folding, folding table. Neat ownership initials “W.S.H” to title page, matching gilt spine monogram. Joints and extremities neatly restored. Sporadic light foxing, tiny hole grazing a couple of letters to leaf M3, in all other respects an excellent, crisp copy. ¶ Adams 79–38a; ESTC T58635; Howes F330; Sabin 25565. £15,000 [158463]
All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
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