[Rarebooks] fa: THE COURT OF THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS JAMES THE FIRST - 1620 (Jacobean Manual of Courtly Behavior)

[Ardwight Chamberlain]

Listed now, along with other 17th, 18th & 19th-Century English titles,  
auctions ending Monday, September 19. More details and images can be  
found at the URL below or by searching under the seller name arch_in_la.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/arch_in_la/m.html?_trksid=p4340.l2562

Thanks,
Ardwight Chamberlain
L.A.

The Court of the most Illustrious and most Magnificent James, the  
First; King of Great-Britaine, France, and Ireland: &c. With divers  
rules, most pure precepts, and selected definitions lively delineated.  
London: Printed by Edw: Griffin, in Eliots-Cour[t in the] Little-old- 
Baily, neere the Kings-head, 1620. Small 4to (18 x 14 cm), disbound;  
[14] + 168 pp.; woodcut head-pieces and initials. STC 1023; ESTC  
S101520.

A guide to courtly behavior, laying out the "rules and precepts of a  
Courtly and Politicall life," in which the anonymous author, "A.D.B.",  
purportedly a foreigner residing at the English court, seeks "to  
divulge and set forth unto publicke view, somewhat concerning the life  
of a Courtier." A fascinating and colorful first-hand account of  
Jacobean courtiership. Ironically, though intended as a response to  
the "perverse petulance of many Poets" and "divers Pamphlets" which  
had attacked the court of James I for its licentiousness, indolence  
and cronyism, the work is dedicated to the king's notorious favorite,  
George Villiers, Marquess (soon to be Duke) of Buckingham.

Disbound from a nonce volume, with a sturdy remnant of the original  
volume's spine securing the leaves; title-page soiled and with chips/ 
loss to the corners, laid down onto paper; three succeeding leaves  
with chips to the bottom corners not affecting any text; last page  
moderately soiled; text block occasionally trimmed a bit close at the  
top, just touching the running title on several pages; some scattered  
spots and stains, otherwise the contents are exceptionally clean,  
bright and fresh. Front endpaper with a list, in the original owner's  
elegant hand, of the other titles formerly bound together with this  
one: "Tracts conteined in ys. Volume."