THE LIFE OF EDWARD LORD HERBERT OF CHERBURY. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.
London, England: J. Dodsley, in Pall-mall, 1770. Second Edition. Leather-bound. Quarto, 9.2 in. x 7.5 in., pp. [10], 173. Full contemporary calf with gilt titlte on red panel and bandlines to spine. Gilt to edges of boards. Rubbing to edges with corners lightly nudged. Cracking to outer joint of front, but boards holding. Rear board partially detached. Headcap of spine missing; chip to top of spine. Folding engraved frontis portrait of Herbert (1583-1648) reclining under a tree. Previous owner's name, dated 1801, to front pastedown. Bright, supple pages, including frontis. Good. Item #88026
Originally published in 1764.
Includes a dedication and 6-page Advertisement by Horace Walpole, politician, man of letters, bachelor to the end, who edited, assembled and published the first edition. The manuscript passed from one decendant to another, until lost. But a duplicate was found with an equally circuitious history. Its interest is the life of a 17th Century nobleman-soldier-courtier written in first person, with a good description of contemporary education and social life. He pictures himself as a gay Lothario (and, indeed, he was very handsome) and a skilled duellist (child-like vanity according to the DNB). But this view contrasts sharply with his position as a leading philsopher of his time, studied by Locke and Descartes, and as a poet.. As diplomatic ambassador to France, in an effort to prevent a war, he challenged Louis' favorite to a duel.
Price: $275.00