The History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain (1778)
Description
The History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain (1778)
by Robert Watson
8 ¾ x 5 ½. In English. Printed for Hooper, Pater-noster Row in London, 1778. Second Edition. Complete. Contemporary sprinkled calf, upper corners very neatly renewed some time ago. Raised bands flanked by double guilt rules, each spine, both with one brown and one red morocco label. Front pastedown of Volume I with a bookplate of “Dampierre.” Significant (likely) water spot and small gouge to one board, otherwise the slightest hint of wear to extremities to either volume. ATTRACTIVE BINDINGS completely solid, LUSTROUS, and otherwise showing few signs of use. First and last few leaves (to include the title pages) with offsetting from binder’s glue used for turn-ins, otherwise very FINE internally, the text unusually fresh, clean, and smooth. (The image of Philip II of Spain we included on our website is NOT in the book.)
The only publication by Scottish historian Robert Watson (1730? – 1781), this study of Philip of Spain (1528 – 98) earned the praise of Horace Walpole and achieved considerable popularity in its day, going through seven editions following its 1777 publication and being translated into three languages. Philip’s reign, which encompassed wars with France and with England (including the fateful defeat of the Spanish Armada), revolts in Spain’s Lowland holdings, and fierce persecution of Protestants, was certainly a meaty subject. Watson’s account was a definitive one until superseded by Prescott’s. After a failed career in the church, Watson became a professor of logic at Saint Salvator’s College and devoted himself to the Study of Spanish history. He did not live to complete the work, which was finished by William Thomson (1746 – 1817), Liberian to the eighth Earl of Kinnoull. This extremely attractive copy has an unusual imprint, the print being unrecorded among those copies listed in OCLC.
Price: $875
Shipping: FREE via USPS Priority Mail
Inventory Number: 76500
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