SN - L'Espion dans les Cours des Princes Chrétiens et Suite - 1710-1715

Rare two-volume illustrated set with 3 illustrations hors texte in the second volume and a fold-out plate, unfortunately torn, of the view of the Dardanelles of Constantinople in the first volume -

Presented in the form of a secret correspondence, the work adopts the gaze of a foreign spy who travels the major European courts and transmits to his superiors detailed analyses of politics, diplomacy, wars, court intrigues, religious affairs and the customs of the various nations -

This outsider perspective allows the author to pass a critical judgment on governments, sovereigns, ministers and peoples without openly adopting a partisan position, using the feigned astonishment of the observer to denounce the inconsistencies, abuses and weaknesses of European states -

The volumes describe the rivalries that oppose the great powers of the continent, notably France, England, the United Provinces, the Empire, Spain and the Italian principalities, explaining the causes of conflicts, the games of alliances, the diplomatic negotiations, territorial ambitions and the economic interests that determine international relations -

SN - Suite of The Spy in the Courts of the Christian Princes - 1710/1715 - Volume I and II - Erasme Kinkius -
349 pages

Fair condition of bindings, works in full brown leather of the period, signs of wear, some minor defects on boards and spine, cracks on three joints, the security cords torn, corners worn, speckled edges, smooth spine adorned, gilded titles and tomains on morocco pieces -

Good interior condition, slight brownings, a few small tears and a loss on the title page of the second volume, title page printed in red and black and adorned with a beautiful vignette, works enriched with 3 illustrations hors texte in the second volume and a fold-out plate of the view of the Dardanelles of Constantinople in the first volume (unfortunately torn with a very large loss), marbled endpapers in fair condition, good overall -

Delivery service guaranteed within a few days -