The Works of the Famous Nicolas Machiavel,

first collected edition in English

The first edition of the collected works in English of Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527).

The collection include Machiavelli's major titles The Prince, History of Florence, Discourses on Livy, and The Art of War, together with his lesser known Life of Castruccio Castricani of Lucca, novella Marriage of Belphegor, and the spurious letter to Zenobius Buondelmontius dated a decade after Machiavelli's death in which he defends himself from the worst imputations against him. From 'an early date Neville was thought to be the author of this letter, although it may have been an earlier forgery brought back, as the preface claims, from his visit to Italy in the 1640s' (ODNB).

This copy bears the imprint for 'John Starkey at the Miter in Fleetstreet' as in ESTC R19906, but with the text otherwise collating according to ESTC R180243.

First edition; folio (31 x 20 cm); title bears imprint for ESTC R19906, with text collating as ESTC R180243, divisional title-pages, woodcut fleur-de-lys ornament to general title, woodcut ornaments, occasional pencil annotations and notes to margins, one or two pen annotations, general title a little toned with old fold lines, occasional light spotting; recently bound repurposing 18th-century calf boards, gilt spine in 6 compartments, contrasting red morocco lettering-piece to second compartment, marbled edges, very good; [24], '189' [i.e. 179], [4], 199-262, 265-267, [5], 267-314, 317-439, [6], 434-529, [17]pp.

ESTC R19906 (title) & R180243 (text); Wing M128/M128A.