The Works of Niccolo Machiavelli (Nicholas Machiavel), illustrated with notes, anecdotes, dissertations, and the life of Machiavelli, never before published with several new plans on the Art of War. By Ellis Farneworth, printed for Thomas Davies [& others] in London in 1762, 4to.
Including "The Prince", "The Art of War", "Discourses on Livy", etc. A rather rare mid 18th century publication of the works of Machiavelli into English.
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The first Ellis Farnworth edition, one of just 500 copies according to the printer Bowyer's records. Farneworth apparently "hawked it" around London in an attempt to support himself and his two sisters, to little avail as he died the following year.
A similar (but worse condition) copy achieved £625, Bonhams lot 137, 29th July 2015.
Condition:
Early ownership inscriptions to both titles with light spotting to preliminary leaves. Bookplate to front pastedown of both volumes. Bound in contemporary calf with later rather nice backstrips, thus showing very nicely on the shelf. Collated as complete including the rather nice folding tables. Scuffing to boards which appear to have been recently conditioned or had some restorative work. Text block generally very clean.
A very good copy of the works of Machiavelli.
