CHARLES I [John GAUDEN]. Εἰκὼν Βασιλικὴ [Eikon Basilike]. The pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in his solitudes and sufferings.

£1,500 · Offered by Henry Sotheran Ltd

CHARLES I [John GAUDEN]. Εἰκὼν Βασιλικὴ [Eikon Basilike]. The pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in his solitudes and sufferings. [ London: William Dugard .] “1648” [ i.e. 1649]. 8vo. Contemporary black morocco, rebacked with original spine, covers with double fillet border, central floral lozenge and cornerpieces, flat spine gilt ruled in compartments with later gilt lettering, gilt edges, endpapers renewed; pp. [6], 208, 107-154, 255-302, [8], with double-page engraved frontispiece after William Marshall, woodcut initial and typographic headpieces; spine a little discoloured, extremities very lightly rubbed; the occasional spot, but generally a very good, crisp copy; presentation inscription “Louisa Davis given by her affectionate mother Selina Jawin January 1815” to front free endpaper; earlier signatures of John Hox and John Symes to rear endpaper, ticket of Salisbury Bookbinders to rear pastedown. Early edition of the Eikon Basilike , Charles I’s spiritual biography and a bestseller of Royalist propaganda, handsomely preserved in a fine contemporary binding. First published on 9 February 1649, only ten days after Charles I’s execution, the Εἰκὼν Βασιλική (Eikon Basilike, lit. “Royal portrait”) rapidly became one of the most widely read and influential books ever printed in English. Written in a plain yet poignant diaristic style, it blends irenic prayers seeking forgiveness of the king’s executioners with a defence of royalism and of Charles’s political and military co

• Binding: Hardcover

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