#Machiavelli #book #Essex #sale #Antique #Collecting
Hidden in the depths of Colchester auction house Reeman Dansie’s upcoming 250-lot works of art section, in their 1267 lot two-day September Fine Art auction, is an unremarkable looking tome with decrepit ancient leather binding.
Belying appearances, this pocket sized book is a tremendous rarity for collectors and the auctioneers anticipate significant interest when it goes under the hammer on September 25.
The title is a rare first English translation of Machiavelli’s Prince, dating to 1640. The original book was published in 1532, and was presented as an instructional guide for new Princes.
The philosophy which Machiavelli outlines is essentially that immoral acts are justified if they can help achieve political glory. The publication was tremendously influential and is widely considered to be the first philosophical publication. However, so amoral and explosive was the text, that the book was highly censored and an English translation wasn’t made until a century later.
The diminutive example in the sale was discovered during a routine house clearance in Essex. Despite damage to binding, the text is complete and carries a guide price of £10,000-15,000.
