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Slingsby BethelTHE INTERESTS OF PRINCES AND STATES.
London: Printed for John Wickins ... 1680. [16],354,[4]pp., including preliminary blank and terminal adverts. Octavo. Old calf, side panels ruled in blind. Two early signatures on endsheet and first blank ("Edward Hoblyn"), another, somewhat later ("William Bickford, Dunsland"), in top margin of title (along with authorship attribution in the same hand), spine considerably chipped at crown and toe (but sound), no original pastedowns, and two bookplates (one on each inner board), but a good, internally very good, crisp copy. Item #WRCLIT65552
First edition, being a substantial amplification of Bethel's influential pamphlet, THE PRESENT INTEREST OF ENGLAND STATED (1671), coupled with new considerations of the same for the principal countries of Europe, with separate treatments of Genoa and Venice. Bethel (1617 - 1697) "was among the first English authors to adopt continental interest theory, and he also developed the idea of balance in his discussions of international affairs, trade, and religion ... [he] advocated the advancement of overseas trade as ‘the principal Interest of England,’ encouraged the government to adopt more supportive policies, and implicitly criticized Charles II for not already having done so..." - DNB. ESTC R11732. WING B2064. KRESS 1508. GOLDSMITHS 2439 (2nd ed. of 1681).
Price: $1,250.00