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112 RIBADENEYRA, Pedro de. Tratado de la religion y virtudes que deve tener el principe Christiano, para gouvernar y conservar sus estados. Madrid: en la emprenta de P[edro] Madrigal, a costa de Juan de Montoya, 1595 the christian prince First edition of this anti-Machiavellian mirror for princes, affirming that true Christianity and “reason of state” are inseparable. The Jesuit priest Pedro de Ribadeneyra (1527–1611) was an important literary figure of the Spanish Golden Age, an influential thinker of the Counter-Reformation, and the secretary and hagiographer of Ignatius of Loyola. Machiavelli’s Prince had asserted the monarch was justified in using any means for the good of the state, and that the appearance of religion, if it benefited the state, was more important than true religion. Ribadeneyra counters fiercely that true religion and faith in God are the only means to a successful kingdom, holding monarchs to be God’s stewards on earth who must act accordingly, not least to maintain the faith of their subjects. True religion and “reason of state” are indivisible, rather than opposites. “The prince sketched by Ribadeneyra is no religious bigot; rather, he is a strong, skilful, pragmatic personality and consummate statesman. But he is also – and herein lies the heart and substance of the matter – a profoundly ethical ruler” (Fernández-Santamaría, p. 42). Quarto (196 × 135 mm). Contemporary vellum, lower edge lettered in manuscript, later manuscript lettering to spine, ties missing. Ownership and shelfmark notations to front pastedowns, marginal notes to first 60 pages. Split to vellum on front cover, inner hinges split with pastedowns lifted and wormed, without free endpapers, title with patch of restoration (not affecting text) in inner margin, light running damp mark at head, contents otherwise clean and crisp, one passage inked out on D8v (conforming to other copies), worming to last few leaves with loss to a few letters. A good copy. ¶ J. A. Fernández-Santamaría, Natural Law, Constitutionalism, Reason of State, and War , 2005. £2,000 [158595]
In 1971 Jane was appointed by Governor Ronald Reagan to the US Commission of Fine Arts: “if after the first meeting of the commission you want [the flowers] back I’ll understand”. The operation the letter mentions is uncertain – the last traced operation Reagan underwent was a trans-urethral prostatectomy in 1967, although from 1971 he began receiving regular allergy shots. Reagan finishes the letter “Nancy sends her love & please give our best to Justin. I hope we’ll be seeing you soon”. 1 page (266 × 184 mm), on “Ronald Reagan” letterhead. Two folds as originally mailed, a couple of specks of handling soiling, in excellent condition. £1,750 111 REAGAN, Ronald. An American Life. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1990 signed by reagan, in the original oak box Signed limited edition, number 234 of 2,000 copies signed by Ronald Reagan, presented as issued in a striking oak box emblazoned with the presidential seal. An American Life is Reagan’s autobiography, covering his birth to his election as 40th president of the United States through to the end of his term in office. With the booklabel on the limitation page of James G. Stearns (1935–2012), nominated by Reagan to the board of directors of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, and a letter of provenance from his daughter. Octavo. Original blue morocco, spine lettered in gilt, front cover stamped in gilt with the presidential seal above the White House with Reagan’s facsimile signature in gilt underneath, marbled endpapers, gilt edges, blue silk bookmark with white star ornamentation. Housed in the original oak box, lid with gilt medallion of the presidential seal, metal handles on sides, interior lined in blue velvet, pull-out drawer holding six cassette tapes of Reagan’s speeches. Slight lean to spine, minimal rubbing to box, near-fine. £3,000 [158356] [157887]
All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
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