Cabrera de Cordova, Luis | First edition of this history of the reign of King Phillip II

Cabrera de Cordova, Luis 

Filipe Segundo, Rey de España. [Colophon:] Madrid: Luis Sanchez, 1619

Folio (305 x 200 mm). Engraved title-page, initials, vignettes; title page offset to the verso, small hole closer to hinge through twenty leaves (pp. 859–880), light foxing and occasional stains throughout, quire X contains a total of 11 leaves, X5-7 are added between pp. 328 and 329, these three leaves are foliated 329*, 330*, and 331*, the text follows uninterrupted. Late nineteenth-century half black morocco over marbled paper boards in double-ruled borders, spine in six compartments with semi-raised bands, labeled in second and date in fourth in gilt-lettering, remaining in gilt stars within double-ruled gilt borders, marbled endpapers; boards scuffed and rubbed, worn at extremities, hinges cracked but holding, endpapers mildly rippled, upper text block edges dust-soiled. 

First edition of this history on Phillip II’s reign from 1556 to 1583.

An impressively detailed chronological account of the reign of Philip II with extensive indices, the present work includes numerous details of activities in the New World, including the expedition of Juan de Oñate to New Mexico, the housing of the archives at Simancas, the printing of the Biblia Regia in Flanders, and the move to the Gregorian Calendar. The engraved title page features Philip II, fitted for battle and pointing his sword at a crowd of oncoming soldiers.

Cabrera de Cordova would quickly rise to prominence in royal circles, after being appointed the official scribe to the Duke of Osuna at age 25. Filipe Segundo's author would come into contact with King Philip II later in his life, when he was employed to organize the State archives. After the King's death, Cabrera de Cordova would become secretary to the queen and dedicate the present work to Philip's grandson.

"This book was much used by all later Spanish historians." (Wagner)

REFERENCES

Alden & Landis 619/31; Heredia 7162; Salvá 2850; Palau 38917; Perez Pastor 1586; Wagner, Spanish Southwest 25

PROVENANCE

José Maria Nepomuceno (library stamp to title-page)