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This diminutive book was discovered during a routine house clearance in Essex, despite damage to binding, the text is complete and carries a guide price of £10,000-15,000.
17/07/2024
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Hidden in the depths of our 250 lot works of art section, in our 1267 lot two-day September Fine Art auction is an unremarkable looking tome with decrepit ancient leather binding (Lot 803). Belying appearances, this pocket sized book is a tremendous rarity for collectors and we anticipate significant interest when it goes under the hammer on the 25th September. This is a rare first English translation of Machiavelli’s Prince, dating to 1640. The original book was published in 1532, and was presented as an instructional guide for new Princes. The philosophy which Machiavelli outlines is essentially that immoral acts are justified if they can help achieve political glory. The publication was tremendously influential and is widely considered to be the first philosophical publication. So amoral and explosive was the text, that the book was highly censored and an English translation wasn’t made until a century later.
Lot 803, Machiavelli - The Prince, the first English edition, published London 1640, the text complete, in crude early full calf binding. Estimate £10,000 - £15,000
This diminutive book was discovered during a routine house clearance in Essex, despite damage to binding, the text is complete and carries a guide price of £10,000-15,000.
Featuring in our July Fine Art sale is a fascinating collection of 38 lots on paper, removed from a substantial 19th century album which has been in the possession of the same family since it was compiled.
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Lot 970 in our Fine Art sale on July the 1st and 2nd is this unassuming Edwardian watercolour interior scene, guided at £300-500.
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Coming up for sale in our forthcoming Royalty, Fine Art & Antiques sale is an exceptionally rare pair of Italian Vezzi porcelain chocolate beakers, circa 1720-1727.
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