"TO DISCOVER THE PRESENT POLITIC DISTEMPER… WITH THE CAUSES AND REMEDIES", PLATO REDIVIVUS IN BEAUTIFUL CONTEMPORARY BINDING

NEVILLE, Henry. Plato Redivivus or a Dialogue Concerning Government. London: A. Millar, 1763. 12mo, contemporary full full sprinkled calf-gilt.sprinkled calf, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, raised bands, red morocco spin label. $1250.

Later edition of Neville's proposal for an improved commonwealth, inspired by the tenets of James Harrington, bound in excellent full contemporary sprinkled calf-gilt.

Both the political and literary career of Henry Neville (1620-94) were marked by controversy. He was banished from London by Cromwell in 1654, accused of blasphemy and atheism, arrested on suspicion of involvement in the "Yorkshire rising'' and locked in the Tower of London in 1663; meanwhile, his satirical Parliament of Ladies (published anonymously, like most of his works) brought numerous hostile responses. His republican treatise Plato Redivivus, first published in 1681, is "an un-Platonic dialogue developing a scheme for the exercise of the royal prerogative through councils of state responsible to parliament, and of which a third part should retire every year. This work… was much admired by Hobbes" (DNB). ESTC T76175. Wing N513 (for first edition).

Joints expertly repaired, otherwise in fine condition.