GOOD to VERY GOOD CONDITION

This sale is for a vintage hardback FIRST EDITION “Louis XIV and the Greatness of France,” by Maurice Ashley, with double spread endpaper maps: Expansion of France During Reign of Louis XIV, acquisitions 1643-1715 (front); and Campaigns of French Armies in Netherlands and the Empire Under Louis XIV (back) and frontispiece portrait of Louis XIV from a coin.

It was published by Hodder & Stoughton Limited, of London, for the English Universities Press, is the September, 1946 FIRST EDITION (stated) and is one of their wonderful “Teach Yourself History Library” editions, edited by A. L. Rowse.

Louis XIV (1638-1715) ruled as King of France and of Navarre and acceded to the throne a few months before his fifth birthday.  He was known as Louis the Great and also popularly known as The Sun King (in French le Roi Soleil) because of the idea that, just as the planets revolve around the Sun, so too should France and the court revolve around him.

During his long reign – 72 years as king (the longest reign of any European monarch) - he increased the power and influence of France in Europe, engaging in three major wars, the Franco-Dutch War of 1872-8, the War of the Grand Alliance (or Nine Years War of 1888-97), and the War of the Spanish Succession of 1701-1714.

The contents include:

·       The Rising Sun

·       The King and His Kingdom

·       A Fine Italian Hand

·       The Court of Versailles

·       Shipwreck of a System

·       Church and King

·       The Prime of Life

·       France Against Europe

·       The Spanish Succession

·       Disenchantment

·       Sunset

·       The Greatness of France

The book measures 7 inches x 4.6 inches and has 263 pages. 

The book is in good, neat condition for its age, with minor wear/bumps and is a little grubby/faded to the original cloth hardback cover, with light foxing near the covers/rims. There are NO inscriptions/book-plates and NO other ink or pencil markings in the book. The binding is very good with no loose or missing pages.  There is no dust-jacket.

A wonderful vintage FIRST EDITION.

COMBINED POSTAGE - ALL BIDDERS: We offer 20% off the total postage & packing/‘shipping’ for additional items after the cost of the heaviest book – please wait for a combined invoice.

Please click on “View Sellers Other Items” towards the top right hand side of this page for other vintage editions.  

Buyer to pay postage & packing

For UK Postage: 2nd Class/Parcels = £3.10;

or 1st Class = £3.90

European Union Postage: = 6.95 GB Pounds

USA Postage: Air Mail (USA) = 13.45 GB Pounds

Rest of the World Postage: Air Mail (Anywhere else in the World) = 10.70 GB Pounds

Unwinsbooks always obtain a proof of postage receipt from the Royal Mail.  Packages over Royal Mail size rules may be sent by courier (customer will be informed).

Goods will be WELL PACKAGED by Unwins Books and dispatched once payment has cleared.