AN ACCOUNT OF DENMARK: AS IT WAS IN THE YEAR 1692 bound with AN ACCOUNT OF SUEDEN AS IT WAS IN THE YEAR 1688 WITH SEVERAL PIECES RELATING TO THOSE ACCOUNTS.; An Account of Denmark: As it was in t;he Year 1692. Bound with An Account of Sueden as it was in the Year 1688 Together with an Extract of the History of the Kingdom.
London. Thos. Longman, at the Ship in Pater-noster-row, 1738. Fourth Edition (both). Leather-bound. Stated fourth edition of each. Full tan, mottled sheep (8 in. x 5 1/4 in)(. Rebacked in calf with contrasting burgundy spine label, lettered in gilt. Five raised bands (six compartments),with year of publication (1738) stamped in gilt to bottom-most compartment. PP. 432 (contiguously paginated)
Molesworth's first publication of this work -- three editions in 1694, and this fourth only in 1738 -
was rather innovative and influential in the "burgeoning field of political science in the period. He made a case for comparative political analysis, comparing the political situation of a country to the health of an indvidual; a disease, he reasoned, can only be diagnosed by comparing it to its instantiation in other people." (•Thompson, Martyn P. "A Note on "Reason" and "History" p. 495, in Late Seventeenth Century Political Thought." Political Theory, Vol. 4, No. 4. (1976), 491–504.)
Molesworth was an interesting character. From one of the oldest and perhaps privileged families in England, he was a distinguished student, and eventually ffound his way into politics. Previously, at age 37, he was sent as a private enjoy to Denmark, and incurred the wrath of Danish royalty, purportedly leaving suddenly in the dark of night after poaching in the Royal preserve and daring to use an exclusively royal road. (It is true that the only account of this fiasco was written by an adversary).
Molesworth soon thereafter, wrote this uncomplementary and revolutionary account of the royal rule of Denmark, taking special aim at what he saw to be an overly authoritarian royal rule. Some within that royal family demanded of the English that he be punished. It is not known to this writer whether such retribution and punishment occurred for these heinous sins.
Armorial bookplate to front pastedown from Elden Hall of Augustus Keppel (1725-1786) -- aka
Viscount Keppel of Elveden or Baron Elden). Keppel was a British admiral, first lord of the Admiralty, and Whig politician whose career was marred by a controversy over his role in the "indecisive outcome of his battle against the French on July 27, 1778" (Encyclopedia Britannica) Elveden (or Elden) is a vast 17,000 acre estate and once working farm in Suffolk, England. Pencilled signature, largely illegible, to front free endpaper. Very Good. Item #82643
There were three editions of this Account of Denmark (within a three-month period!) in the year 1694. The present edition is from the Third of them, which is said in the Title to have been corrected.
Sueden: "The reputed Author of this Account resided at the Court of Sueden in 1679, and for above twenty years afterwards."
Price: $650.00