The history of the reign of Philip the Third, King of Spain
Dublin: Price, et al, 1783. 8vo. [viii], 525, [10] pp., including index. FIRST EDITION. Contemporary calf, rebacked; an excellent copy with the bookplate of the Franciscan Capuchin Library, Church Street, Dublin, on the paste-down. Item #14375
First Dublin edition, printed the same year as the first London edition. Divided into six books, the first deals with the life of Philip, with the remainder describing the various wars and the political state of Spain, its allies and enemies, during Philip’s reign, from 1598-1621. A significant focus of the history recounts Spain’s internal politics, including the expulsion of the Moriscos. A detailed and fascinating chronological work encompassing both the rise of the Spanish empire as well as the decline of its economy, all thoroughly tied to the nature and outlook of Philip and his counselors.
Watson (1730-1781) was a philosopher and church minister; the book was completed after Watson’s death by William Thomson (1746-1817), a disgraced Scottish minister and librarian to the eighth earl of Kinnoull.
Price: $450.00