Finetti Philoxenis – John Finet – 1656 | First Edition | English Court Protocol

Finetti Philoxenis by John Finet, printed in London in 1656, records ceremonial practice and diplomacy at the English court in the early 17th- century. Finet held the position of Master of the Ceremonies to James I and Charles I, observing the reception, ranking, and formal treatment of foreign diplomacy. The volume includes accounts of precedence disputes, ceremonial processions, and formal state occasions. Many passages focus on events from the reign of James I. Edited by James Howell, the text offers a structured record of etiquette and honor among ambassadors.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Finetti Philoxenis: som choice observations of Sr. John Finett knight, : and master of the ceremonies to the two last Kings
• Author(s): John Finet
• Contributor(s): James Howell (Editor)
• Publisher: Printed by T.R. for H. Twyford and G. Bedell, London
• Edition: First Edition, 1656
• Format: (16mo), single volume
• Binding: Full leather binding and corners
• Size:  6.5 in x 4.5 in (16.5 cm x 11.5 cm)
• Collation: [14], 250, [10]
• Illustrations:
• Contents Include:
  • Protocols of ambassadorial reception and ranking
  • Precedence disputes among foreign representatives
  • State ceremonies of the English court
  • James I era diplomatic events
• Reference(s): ESTC 006115686. Wing F947

Condition:

Binding secure with mild surface wear to leather and boards. Gilt title on spine remains legible. Marbled boards retain color. Pages show light toning at the margins.

Why Collect This?

• First edition of a 17th-century diplomatic record
• Eyewitness accounts from the Master of the Ceremonies
• Fine binding with marbled boards

Item Number: # 29187