£150
12mo, pp. [xx], 343, [1]. Title-page printed in red and black. Contemporary mottled sheep, spine divided by raised bands, brown morocco label, other compartments tooled in gilt, edges sprinkled red. Stab hole to outer margin of 2 gatherings. Binding rather rubbed and pitted, extremities worn.
A Dutch printing of a French translation of a Spanish book on an Italian diplomat; Gracián's first book, translated by poet, translator and Jesuit priest Joseph de Courbeville (1688-1715). A response to The Prince and a critique of Machiavelli, it was first published in Spanish in 1637. This French translation first appeared in 1725, and was translated into English in 1726.
