{"product_id":"john-spleman-life-alfred-great-oxford-1709-124099","title":"The Life of Alfred the Great...","description":"\u003ch4 class=\"srb-faux-head\"\u003efirst edition in English\u003c\/h4\u003eThe first edition in English of Sir John Spelman's enchanting history of England's first king, Alfred the Great.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlthough Alfred (c.849-899) was not the first ruler to style himself 'Bretwalda' — overlord of the Anglo-Saxons — his reign represents the beginning of the first line of unbroken kings to rule the whole of England. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe work was originally published in Latin posthumously in 1678 as Alfredi magni Anglorum regis invictissimi vita. Its author, Sir John Spelman (1594-1643) was a moderate royalist who advocated for a form of constitutional monarchy which recognised the King as head of the body politic. 'This was not to claim \"a power to make lawes and lay taxes without the consent of Parliament', but only a \"negative voice, that they without him may not make any lawes\"' (ODNB).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst edition in English; 8vo (19.5 x 13 cm); engraved portrait frontispiece laid down, engraved vignette title, old ownership stamp to front free endpaper recto, ads to rear, text-block browned with moderate to heavy spotting throughout, a little tightly bound, small hole to A8 with very slight loss to text; 20th-century diced half dark blue calf, marbled paper boards, contrasting red morocco lettering-piece to spine, edges stained red, minor wear; [6], 238, [10]pp.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eESTC T147373.\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"SPELMAN, Sir John.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57391414935927,"sku":"124099","price":691.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0733\/4694\/1233\/files\/124099_01.jpg?v=1787057795","url":"https:\/\/shapero.com\/en-us\/products\/john-spleman-life-alfred-great-oxford-1709-124099","provider":"Shapero Rare Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}