THE COLLECTED WORKS OF JAMES I, 1616 FIRST EDITION
JAMES I. The Workes of the Most High and Mightie Prince, James. London: Robert Barker and John Bill, 1616. Folio (9 by 13-1/2 inches), period-style half brown calf, raised bands, red morocco spine label, marbled boards.
First edition of the collected works of James I, with splendid copper-engraved frontispiece portrait by Simon Pass of James enthroned in the robes of state and elaborately engraved additional title page by Elstrack. A handsome copy.
James VI (1566-1625), King of Scotland and son of Mary Queen of Scots, became King James I of England in 1603 after the death of Elizabeth I. “His collected works were published by Bishop Montague in 1616, with the addition of earlier speeches and state papers” (DNB). Among the works included in this collection are “Paraphrase upon the Revelation,” “Daemonology,” “Basilicon Doron,” “Counterblast to Tobacco,” “Law of Free Monarchies,” “Powder Treason,” and “Defence of the Rights of Kings.” With full-page woodcut of the royal arms, small engraved portrait of Prince Charles by Pass at the head of the dedication, and woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces throughout. Without separately published 1620 supplement (containing the “Paterne for a King’s Inauguration”), often not present. STC 14344. Lowndes, 1180.
A few very minor marginal wormtraces; text quite clean. An attractively bound copy.