1628 – History for Gentry – Braithwaite | Classical History – Plato, Demosthenes, Mecca

Richard Brathwaite’s A Survey of History: or, A Nursery for Gentry is an expanded edition of Schollers Medley. It is a wide-ranging collection of historical, philosophical, and literary observations intended for a gentry readership. Brathwaite moves between classical references and contemporary subjects, addressing figures such as Plato, Demosthenes, and Octavian, alongside commentary on religion, morality, and natural history. The text includes varied discussions such as the nature of man, accounts of animals including the crocodile and ichneumon, and reflections on authors like Josephus and Machiavelli with references to Mecca and Hispaniola.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A survey of history:, or, A nursery for gentry. : Contrived and comprized in an intermixt discourse upon historicall and poeticall relations
• Author(s): Richard Brathwaite
• Publisher: London, I. Okes for Iasper Emery
• Edition: 1628 expanded edition.
• Binding: Full leather, professionally reinforced
• Format: (12mo), single volume
• Size:  7.5 in x 5.5 in (19 cm x 14 cm)
• Collation: [28], 415, [1] pp
• Illustrations: none
  • Engraved title page lacking
• Contents Include:
  • Philosophical discussions on Plato and human nature
  • Observations on animals including crocodile and ichneumon
  • Commentary on Octavian and classical history
  • Religious and moral reflections including atheism and Mahomet
  • Notes on Josephus, Machiavelli, and Demosthenes

Condition:

Good. Full leather binding tight and secure, professionally reinforced with original boards retained. Corners show light wear. Text block complete. Engraved title page is lacking.

Why Collect This?

• 1628 expanded edition of Brathwaite’s early work
• Early English printing for gentry readership

Item Number: #50233