Forum Rare Books | Rare Books

< Back

Interesting travel account on the Low Countries and France by a controversial English courtier

OVERBURY, Sir Thomas.
His observations in his travailes upon the state of the XVII provinces as they stood anno dom 1609. The treatie of peace being then of foote.

(London, Bernard Alsop for John Parker), 1626. Sm. 4to. Late 19th century purple morocco with gilt lettering on spine and central gilt ornament on covers, inner dentelles, g.e. (SANGORSKI & SUTCLIFFE). (2), 28 pp. (last blank lacking).

First edition of this charming travel account on the Low Countries and France by Sir Thomas Overbury (1581 - 1613), English poet and essayist. In 1601 Overbury met Robert Carr at Edinburgh, and went with him to court. He became the king's servitor-in-ordinary, was knighted in June 1608, and in 1609 he travelled in France and the Low Countries. He has been the victim of one of the most sensational crimes in English history. In summer 1615, it emerged that Sir Thomas Overbury had died on 14 September 1615 in the Tower of London where he had been placed at the king's request in advance of the annulment case of Frances Howard. Overbury had been poisoned. Among those suspected were Frances Howard and Robert Carr. Frances Howard, who admitted a part in Overbury's murder, and Carr, who did not, were both found guilty and sentenced to death though they were eventually pardoned. Four other accused were also executed. The implication of the king in such a scandal provoked much public and literary conjecture and irreparably tarnished James's court with an image of corruption and depravity.
Meanwhile, Overbury's poem, The Wife, was published in 1614, and ran through six editions within a year, the scandal connected with the murder of the author greatly aiding its success. It was abundantly reprinted within the next sixty years, and it continued to be one of the most widely popular books of the 17th century. Combined with later editions of The Wife, and gradually adding to its bulk, were Characters (first printed in the second of the 1614 editions). The Remedy of Love (1620), and his present Observations in his travels (1626). Later, much that must be spurious was added to the gathering snowball of Overbury's Works.
Overbury writes in a favourable way about the democratic and prosperous Dutch United provinces at the beginning of the 'Twelve Year's Truce' with Spain in 1609 (pp. 1-8), followed by his remarks on the Spanish (Southern) Netherlands: 'Observations upon the State of the Arch-Dukes Countrie, 1609' (pp. 9-11), and the 'Observations on the State of France, 1609 under Henry the Fourth' (pp. 12-28).

Very good copy in a nineteenth-century bibliophile binding, in a slip-case, with ex-libris William Stirling Maxwell.

STC 18903; reprint Amsterdam, etc. The English experience 154 (1969).

Related Subjects: 17th Century Criminology England Low Countries Travel & Voyages

Add to Shopping cart

€ 2.500,00

Prices in EUROS (€), shipping and BTW/VAT extra.

< Back

Terms of sale

All items are offered subject to prior sale. Prices are nett and in (€) EURO. VAT/BTW, postage, and insurance are not included.

Free shipping for orders over € 2,500. EU customers: if applicable, please quote your VAT number when placing orders.

Preferred mode of payment: by credit card through our secure online payment service, which is facilitated by Ogone. If you wish to make other arrangements, please contact us. Terms of sale

E-mail this to a friend

Antiquariaat FORUM B.V.
Tuurdijk 16
3997 MS t Goy-Houten,
The Netherlands

Phone: (+31) (0)30 601 1955
Fax: (+31) (0)30 601 1813
E-mail: info@forumrarebooks.com
Web: http://www.forumrarebooks.com