A List of Treaties Between Several Princes & States of The World, 233 pp of manuscript

A List of Treaties between Ye Several Princes & States of Ye World. 4to.(7.5" x 11.5") 233 pp. manuscript in English. Full brown speckled calf. spine with five gilt decorated raised bands, gilt lettering and design to red leather in second compartment. Heavy gilt decoration and centered floral gilt device to every other compartment. Edgewear, corners bumped and rubbed with tiny loss to two tips, head and foot of spine lightly chipped with little to no loss, upper board tender with separation at head and foot of hinge. Extremities rubbed, boards lightly scuffed and rubbed. Finger soiling to page fore-edges, a couple of pages noticed with small closed tears to the page edge. Every text page ruled in red.

The very large quarto treasure is titled "A List of Treaties Between Several Princes & States of The World." Although undated, we are confident it was completed early in the first decade of the 18th century as the latest treaties listed are 1702 of which there are several. It is housed in its original full calfskin binding with all edges gilt, consistent with early 18th century bindings. The front endpaper is lacking, the back endpaper is present. The titlepage is followed by 2 blank p[ages both of which have bleed through from the bold calligraphy written titlepage and "Alphabetical List of Treaties." The alphabetical list of treaties consists of this sections title page and of 8 unnumbered pages with 3 letters of the alphabet each, letters J and U are omitted. Immediately thereafter is a 2 page treaty with the the heading "Whitchall May 30th, 1668" "Committee appointed to consider of the manner of signing by Ambassadors:" Present... The treaty is followed by 6 blank pages after which the numbered section of the body starts. The numbered pages follow these blank pages. Pages 1-25 are comprised of "General List of Treaties" which is followed by 4 blank pages. Page 30 lists 3 Capitulations of Sev'l Towns. Pages 31-233 list the various treaties. The back of page 233 in unnumbered and is followed by the 2 page endpaper. 1340 & 1360 (page 58), followed by treaties between England and France dating back to 1446. This treaty is the oldest of the nine 15th century treaties between the two countries. There are a few other 15th century treaties and a similar number of 16th century treaties. The vast majority of the treaties are from the 17th century as well as a few from 1700-1702. The subject of the treaties vary greatly and include, but not limited to the following: Peace, Allyance (sic), Offence, Defense, Navigation & Commerce, of marriage, peace & religion, restitution of funds, Neutrality, Truce, Assistance, and Surrender. There are at least 3 Secret Treaties, those between England & Denmark, England & Portugal, and England & Savoy. This should be considered a rare, historic piece of British History.