THE HISTORY OF THE REIGNS OF EDWARD AND RICHARD II

London: F. Collins for Thomas Fox, 1690. FIRST EDITION. 187 x 119 mm. (7 3/8 x 4 3/4"). 3 p.l., xli, [1], 183, [1] pp.
Contemporary red goatskin, intricately gilt, elongated filigree panel on front and back cover, raised bands, heavily gilt spine, marbled pastedowns, all edges gilt. A Large Paper Copy printed on special thick paper. Front pastedown with bookplate of Robert S. Pirie. Wing H-2999. ◆Color of leather slightly variable, corners a bit bumped and rubbed, trivial wear elsewhere, but the unrestored binding solid and certainly pleasing, and AN EXCEPTIONALLY FINE COPY INTERNALLY, the text as bright, clean, and fresh as one could hope for, with particularly ample margins.

Although its text is of some interest to the understanding of English history, this work does not typically command great antiquarian value, but when a copy like the present one--in contemporary red morocco and in remarkably fine condition--turns up, the book is considerably more desirable than usual. Best known as a playwright and politician (and brother-in-law to Dryden), Howard sets out in this work a formal defense of the legality of the Glorious Revolution and explains how James II had effectively deposed himself. Countering the theory of the absolute divine right of kings, Howard writes, "a King has a Divine Right, which is affixt to all Contracts. Now if there were no Contract . . . in what can he have a Divine Right?" He goes on to argue for the limited monarchy of William and Mary and how "Naturally every Man has alike a Divine Right to his Life, Freedom, and Estate." This book is uncommonly seen on the market as a contemporary copy in anything approaching the especially attractive condition seen here..