Machiavelli, Niccolò

12mo (145 x 80mm.), contemporary English calf, preliminary leaves somewhat worn, pp. 120-121 and 144-145 partially stuck together, binding slightly worn, spine creased, head of spine chipped

Francis Bornill, early inscriptions on verso of title-page and inside lower cover; Our Lady's Abbey, Mount St Bernard, stamps on title-page

STC 17168

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

THE FIRST ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF MACHIAVELLI'S PRINCE. Edward Dacres had previously translated Machiavelli's Discourses on Livy in 1636, which was also dedicated to the Duke of Lennox, a relative of Charles I. Both works were not licensed for printing in England earlier than this as they were both controversial texts, though manuscript translations of The Prince were certainly in circulation during the Elizabethan period, just as the originals circulated in manuscript during Machiavelli's lifetime and were only printed after his death. Indeed, in England there were at least four manuscript versions circulating at the time, more than in any other language, and John Wolfe published the original text surreptitiously in London in 1584, far away from the strictures of the Roman Inquisition (though they did confiscate copies of Wolfe's edition from Venetian booksellers). The 1560 Latin translation of Silvestro Tegli was also in circulation.

Machiavelli's influence in England is usually perceived to be more literary than political, with Machiavellian characters famously appearing in plays by Marlowe and Shakespeare; however this translation was printed when England was on the brink of civil war. "The most important use to which Machiavelli's writings were put in England between 1640 and 1660 was as comment on the principle of rule by a single person... As soon as there is even the suggestion of an alternative to hereditary monarchy, we have begun to move towards the Machiavellian ambit of de facto political power" (F. Raab, The English Face of Machiavelli, 1964, p.118).