Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) – Florentine writer and politician
Translation by Thomas Bedingfield Esquire
London: Printed by Thomas Creede for William Ponsonby, 1595
First English edition
Decorated with woodcut engraved ornamental title page and engraved head and tailpieces
Finely bound in recent ‘Grolier’ period style full calf binding
Spine with five raised bands
Compartments ruled, lettered and fully decorated in gilt
Burgundy title label, gilt
Triple blind ruled border on boards, surrounding a triple blind ruled panel which frames an elaborate decorative inlay and gilt design
Folio; (11.1 in x 7.5 in); 11,222 pp.

In 1520, Giulio de’ Medici commissioned Machiavelli to write a history of Florence. Machiavelli’s, “Florentine Historie,” is an extensive and invaluable source of information on Florence and a tribute to the Machiavelli’s vision of ethics and politics. By contemporary standards, this work may be considered more of a ‘national biography’ than a strict history, with Machiavelli’s political insight. This English edition features the translator's dedication and Machiavelli's own Introduction ("Proeme").

This folio has a very minor chip to the fore edge of the title page and the first few leaves are a lightly browned. Overall, this is a clean and crisp copy with good margins.

Niccolò Machiavelli (Florence 1469-1527 Florence)

Niccolò Machiavelli was born in Florence when Italy was divided into four rival city-states. Early in his career after the fall of the Medici in 1949, Machiavelli became a diplomat, serving for fourteen years in Italy’s Florentine Republic. In 1512, he was involved in an unsuccessful attempt to organize a Florentine militia against the return of the Medici’s to power and was subsequently jailed, tortured and banished from an active political role. During this dark period, Machiavelli read Roman histories and wrote political treatises, most notably, “The Prince,” which was condemned by Pope Clement VIII for its endorsement to rule using deceit and fear. Today, Machiavelli is known as the ‘father of modern political theory.’