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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.
We are delighted to hold our summer Classic Car & Automobilia Sale on Saturday 20th June. Here are some of the other entries and we are accepting further entries until late May. For further details, please contact James Grinter or Lewis Rabett on 01206 754754.
A spectacular time capsule of an infamous moment in Suffolk’s history is on offer in our forthcoming Fine Art sale on the 8/9 April and it promises to reinvigorate a murder mystery which has beguiled the public for almost 200 years.
01/04/2026
Hop along to Reeman Dansie to view lot 109, a charming Meissen Rabbit (or hare, the jury is still out..) coming up for sale in our East Anglian, Antiques & Fine Art Sale 8th-9th April 2026, estimate £2000-3000.
30/03/2026