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Hard cover, 8vo. (measuring 5 x 7¾ inches) in full morocco with a later nineteenth-century British Arts and Crafts style design to the boards of leaves and stems punctuated by hearts and arrows. Top edge gilt. The spine has six raised bands with title to the second, and date of publication at foot. Decoration to the compartments comprise repeat of the pierced heart and foliage design within ruled boxes. Inner dentelles feature similar tooling with corner sprays of leafing branches flanking a spiraling version within ruled corner boxes. Stamped signature of the bookseller "Hatchards, 187 Piccadilly" appears at lower front dentelle. Cloudy brown marbled morris-style endpapers. Engraved and monogrammed Edwardian style bookplate to front endpaper. Collation: (6), (vii), 329, (5) pp. First Edition Thus. CONDITION:Near Fine. Quite minor wear to outer joints, (more so to the front). Hinges are in order. Very minor foxing appears on a few pages. One page (p.10) roughly opened resulting in a closed tear. Offset from turn-ins to endpapers. The author, SIR PHILIP SIDNEY, KNIGHT (1554-1586), is perhaps best known as an Elizabethan poet, whose love sonnets have been compared favorably to those by Shakespeare. He was also a gifted scholar of languages, which helped him immeasurably in his diplomatic postings in his early twenties. Sidney famously advised Queen Elizabeth I against marriage to the Count of Anjou, warning her that a man, and a Catholic at that, would diminish her power as a Protestant monarch. This letter, as well as others, are also included in the contents Overall, this is a very handsome book about a remarkably gifted author, diplomat and soldier who accomplished so much in a brief career. Watson Vol. 1, 1047.
Ref: FINE 8389
$550.00