Papers Relative to the Rupture with Spain – 1762 | William Pitt Letters, Historical Provenance

Papers relative to the rupture with Spain was printed in London in 1762. This first edition is a collection of letters exchanged at the beginning of the Anglo-Spanish War, featuring William Pitt, George William Hervey, and Ricardo Wall. The texts appear in parallel pages, French on one side and English on the other, reflecting its diplomatic use. Readers encounter original state papers that reveal the shifting tone between Britain and Spain during a moment of escalating conflict. The book remains an early record of 18th-century political language and negotiation.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Papers relative to the rupture with Spain. In French and English.
• Author(s): Various
• Contributor(s): William Pitt (Correspondence); George William Hervey Earl of Bristol (Correspondence); Ricardo Wall (Correspondence)
• Publisher: London, Printed by E. Owen and T. Harrison
• Edition: First edition, 1762
• Format: (8vo), single volume
• Binding: Full leather
• Size: ~ 8.75 in x 5.5 in (22.2 cm x 14 cm)
• Collation: 279 pp
• Contents Include:
  • Letters by William Pitt
  • Communications of George William Hervey, Earl of Bristol
  • Papers concerning Ricardo Wall
  • Texts in parallel French and English
• Provenance:
  • Supralibros – Order of the Garter. (Motto: HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE)
    • Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford, KG PC (1721 – 1803), known as Viscount Trentham from 1746 to 1754 and as The Earl Gower from 1754 to 1786, was a British politician from the Leveson-Gower family.
    • Sitting in the House of Lords, he spent a quarter of a century in the Cabinet. He served as Lord Privy Seal from 1755-1757. In 1786, he was created Marquess of Stafford as a reward for his services.
    • He was the father of George Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland KG, PC.
  • Ex-Library Stamp – Longton Public Library
• Reference(s):

Condition:

Good. Bound in full leather with gilt supralibros on both boards and gilt title on spine. Hinges show wear but remain firm, and the text block is intact. Pages display age toning but remain sound.

Why Collect This?

• First edition tied to the Anglo-Spanish War of 1762
• Parallel French and English edition, uncommon for books from this era
• Contains correspondence of leading political figures
• Issued at the outbreak of the war
• British historical provenance from the library of the prominent Leveson-Gower family

Item Number: # 29332