[Rarebooks] FS: THE RUSSIAN IMPOSTOR: OR, THE HISTORY OF MUSKOVIE, 1674

[Charles Agvent]

[MANLEY, Sir Roger]. THE RUSSIAN IMPOSTOR: OR, THE HISTORY OF MUSKOVIE, 
Under The Usurpation of Boris and the Imposture of Demetrius, Late 
Emperors of Muskovy. London: by J[ames]. C[otrell]. for Thomas Basset, 
1674. First Edition. Octavo (4-1/4" x 6-3/4") bound in 3/4 brown morocco 
leather and brown boards with a gilt-stamped spine; [1], 250 pages. 
Engraving on verso of title page; lacking the 12-page preface. Wing M75. 
An appendix was included in the Second Edition published in 1677 though 
retaining the 1674 date on the title page. The online ENCYCLOPÆDIA 
BRITANNICA gives the background on Manley's subject matter: "False 
Dmitry, also called Pseudo-demetrius, Russian Lzhedmitry, or Dmitry 
Samozvanets, any of three different pretenders to the Muscovite throne 
who, during the Time of Troubles (1598-1613), claimed to be Dmitry 
Ivanovich, the son of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible (reigned 1533-1584) who 
had died mysteriously in 1591 while still a child." Leo Loewenson in THE 
SLAVONIC AND EAST EUROPEAN REVIEW states, "THE RUSSIAN IMPOSTOR is of 
course not a primary historical source in the sense in which such a 
classification is applicable to reports by foreign travellers. It is 
obviously a secondary work, i.e. the result of research. Not even the 
geographical description of Russia, with which the historical narrative 
is introduced, contains the slightest reason to assume that Manley had 
ever visited the country. Moreover apart from inconclusive remarks like 
that about the uncertainty still prevailing in Russia with regard to the 
identity of the Impostor there is also nothing to suggest that any 
information was derived from hearsay, But the lack of any value as a 
primary source does not deprive the work of great historiographical 
interest The fact that it is wholly based on research gives it a claim 
to being one of the earliest learned histories of Russia written in this 
country" (Vol. 31, No. 76 Dec., 1952; page 239). Title page darkened 
with some wear at the edges, rest of text just a tad darkened; preface 
lacking. Light rubbing to spine tips but binding Near Fine. Overall Very 
Good and uncommon. (#019171)        $1,000

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