The Life of the Renowned Sir Philip Sidney 

by Fulke Greville 

FIRST EDITION, published by Henry Seile. London, UK. 1652. 

Hardback is overall in VERY GOOD condition.

• Rebound in blind tooled full leather, with fresh endpapers. Includes trimmed and inked textblock.
• Binding is tight and secure.
• Blind tooled full leather covers are in in Very Good++ condition and show minimal signs of age and edgewear. 
• Shoulders exhibit minimal wear/creasing. 
• Spine has four raised bands, ten gilt bands and title block with gilt border and lettering; spine ends are firm. 
• Ffep is age-toned and foxed, bearing writing in ink. 
• Missing frontispiece. 
• Interior exhibits expected  age-toned with scattered foxing. 
• The first page of the Dedication bears a signature and date in ink. Please see photos. 
• Pages 203-217 bear small X's along the margins. Please see photos for example. 
• Pages 69-77 show what appears to small burn marks with a small hole to pages 71/72. Please see photos. 
• Page 48 has 2 thin XX through bottom 5 lines.
• Book may exhibit additional minor signs of age or wear.
• JS20170731

Presented is the complete original biography of Sir Philip Sidney by Fulke Greville. The author references names and events that contribute to characterizations which overall creates a personal, and altogether favorable portrait of Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586). Best remembered as a prominent figure of the Elizabethan age, he was an  English poet, courtier, scholar, and soldier. Highlights include Philip's father and mother, his education, the Royal Families of Europe, a commentary on the state of Christendom, the Reformation, his time in Parliament and more. 247 pages. 3.5" by 6". 

Title continues: With the true interest of England as it then stood in relation to all Forain Princes: and particularly for suppressing the power of Spain stated by Him.  His principal actions, counsels, designes, and death. Together with a short account of the maxims and policies used by Queen Elizabeth in her Government. 

This copy is rebound in a period-style with ornamental hand-tooled leather, 4 raised bands and gilt lettering on spine, including inked design details.

Sir Philip Sidney  works include Astrophel and Stella, The Defense of Poesy (also known as The Defence of Poetry or An Apology for Poetry), and The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia.

Born at Penshurst, Kent he was the eldest son of Sir Henry Sidney and Lady Mary Dudley. His mother was the eldest daughter of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, and the sister of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. His younger brother, Robert Sidney was a statesman and patron of the arts, and was created Earl of Leicester in 1618.

Philip was educated at Shrewsbury School and Christ Church, Oxford.

By the age of 18, Sidney became an active member of Parliament in Shrewsbury where he had attended school before entering the Christ Church. He would later go on to meet Penelope Devereux, whose father wanted to see her married to the young Sidney. Through the misfortune of circumstance, the two never married though Penelope Devereux would provide lasting influence and establish her legacy as the inspiration that lead Sidney to writing the iconic sonnet Astrophel and Stella. 

Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke, de jure 13th Baron Latimer and 5th Baron Willoughby de Broke KB PC (3 October 1554 – 30 September 1628), known before 1621 as Sir Fulke Greville, was an Elizabethan poet dramatist and statesman who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1581 and 1621, when he was raised to the peerage.

Greville was a capable administrator who served the English Crown under Elizabeth I and James I as, successively, treasurer of the navy, chancellor of the exchequer, and commissioner of the Treasury, and who for his services was in 1621 made Baron Brooke, peer of the realm. Greville was granted Warwick Castle in 1604, making numerous improvements. Greville is best known today as the biographer of Sir Philip Sidney, and for his sober poetry, which presents dark, thoughtful and distinctly Calvinist views on art, literature, beauty and other philosophical matters. {Wikipedia)

AS IS! Please see photos. More photos available upon request.