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A Defence of the People of England. by MILTON, John - 1692: In Answer to Salmasius's Defence of the King.

by MILTON, John

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A Defence of the People of England. by MILTON, John - 1692

A Defence of the People of England.: In Answer to Salmasius's Defence of the King.

by MILTON, John

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[London?: no publisher identified] Printed in the year 1692. Milton's "most celebrated work in prose" First edition in English of Milton's powerful defence of republicanism and the English Commonwealth, originally published in Latin as Defensio Pro Populo Anglicano in 1651. Milton served in the government of the new regime as secretary for foreign tongues.
Milton's polemic was a response to the continental scholar Claudius Salmasius's Defensio Regia pro Carolo I, which defended Charles I and accused the English parliamentarians of regicide. Milton's response is vituperative, with ad hominem attack beyond the usual standards of the day. Nonetheless, aside from the personal attacks, the tract is important as elaborating Milton's view that kingly power lies in the covenantal transfer of power from the people to their magistrates, and thus they have the right to remove tyrants. The tract had a wide dissemination across Europe.
The tract "immediately exalted Milton's continental reputation and as late as 1753 was deemed Milton's 'most celebrated work in prose' (Birch's Life of Milton). As Isaac Disraeli later remarked, 'all Europe took a part in the paper-war of these two great men', a paper-war in which 'the answer of Milton... perfectly massacred Salmasius' (Works, 1859)" (Corns, 153-4). The strain of composing the work is credited as costing Milton what little was left of his eyesight (ibid., p. 154). This translation is by the radical Whig lawyer Joseph Washington, and its publication likely reflects anti-Stuart feeling in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution. The influence of the book extended into the next century - several editions were published in French in the early years of their own revolution. Octavo (165 x 105 mm). Late 19th-century mottled calf by Blunson & Co., brown morocco label, gilt in compartments. Complete with initial blank, divisional blank a8, and terminal advertisement leaf. 20th-century booklabel of Kenneth Rapoport to front pastedown. Light rubbing to joints and darkening to front cover, faint pencil notation at head of title page, light dampstaining at head throughout, tiny patch of repair (not near text) at head of terminal leaf; still a very good copy. ESTC R9447; Pforzheimer 726; Shawcross 359; Wing M2104. Thomas N. Corns (ed.), A Companion to Milton, 2003.
  • Bookseller Peter Harrington GB (GB)
  • Book Condition Used
  • Publisher [London?: no publisher identified] Printed in the year
  • Date Published 1692

We have 2 copies available starting at NZ$211.81.

A Defence of the People of England
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A Defence of the People of England

by Milton, John

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  • fair
  • first
Condition
Used - Fair
Edition
First English Language Edition
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1
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
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Amsterdam or London, 1692. First English Language Edition. Wraps. Fair. Small 8vo, 6.75 x 4.5 inches, in modern plain black wraps with paper spine label, a fair copy only with significant worming to upper margin from p. 99 on to the end, but the good thing is that the worming never intrudes into the text itself. With first blank, advertisement leaf at end, plus two terminal blanks; the first blank is somewhat edgeworn and tanned, title page with some tanning and edgewear, previous owner's name (R. Ireland, 1698); the text has light and erasable occasional pencil marks, shows some toning/tanning. (8) xxii, 246 (6) pp. First edition in English of Milton's important and highly controversial Pro Populo Angelicano Defensio, originally published in Latin in 1651. Disputed is whether it was published in Amsterdam or London; most people siding with Amsterdam.
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A DEFENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND
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A DEFENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND

by Milton, John

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  • Hardcover
Condition
Used
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$1,694.50

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Description:
[London?]: [s.n.], 1692. Hardcover. Octavo, [8], xxii, [2], 246, [2] pages. In Very Good minus condition. Bound in contemporary calf, rebacked by Jon Robbins with new label. Moderate wear and rubbing to boards. Lacking frontispiece. Toning to interior. Ownership to ffep dated 1698, matching name to title page. JR Consignment. Shelved Room G. A translation, by Joseph Washington, of: Milton, John. Pro populo Anglicano defensio. A reply to: Saumaise, Claude. Defensio regia pro Carolo I. J. Shawcross, "Milton", 359, says, "apparently published in London". Wing conjectures place of publication as Amsterdam. The first leaf and leaf a8 are blank. The last leaf bears "An advertisement to the reader" on recto. ESTC R9447; Shawcross 359. 1345524. Special Collections.
Item Price
NZ$1,694.50