William Robertson

The Complete Works in Ten Volumes the History of Scotland During the Reigns of Queen Mary, and of King James VI. The History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V. The History of America. An Historical Disquisition Concerning the Knowledge Which the Ancients Had of India and the Progress of Trade with That Country.

London, A. Strahan, 1803. Leather. A set of historical books penned by William Robertson, historian and Church of Scotland minister. The History of Scotland was published in two volumes on 1 February in London, and its reception was all that he could wish. By March Robertson found himself overwhelmed with "a whole torrent of praise" (Robertson to G. Elliot, March 1759, NL Scot. MS 11008, fol. 92). A second edition was published in April, and by 1761 four had been published, with a French translation following in 1764.The book was a huge success because Robertson appeared to his readers to move Scotland into the mainstream of polite culture. His study of elocution and style had enabled him to craft prose that was harmonious, balanced, and, above all, correct metropolitan English. In the field of historical writing in particular no one had yet achieved such a magisterial style. Though occupied with church and university, Robertson was also engaged on his next history, the work that he hoped would enhance his European reputation. By the end of 1759 he was firmly decided upon the history of the reign of Charles V. Through Charles V he could explore the dynastic struggle of Charles and Francis I, leading to the overarching theme of the emergence of the balance of power in Europe, the wider context of his Scottish history. The book's structure initially was a conventional political narrative, related in chronological order and centred on Charles's life and career. After the publication of Charles V, Robertson quickly turned to a new historical project. In the book's preface he noted that he had to omit discussion of New World colonization for reasons of proportion and coherence, but he acknowledged that his account of Europe in the sixteenth century was incomplete without it. By the autumn of 1769 he began withdrawing books on America from the university library. On 28 May 1777 the History of America was published in two volumes by Strahan and Cadell in London and Balfour in Edinburgh, again to a very positive reception. Its success was even more marked on the continent, where it was considered Robertson's masterpiece (in Suard's translation), and went through nine editions between 1777 and 1780. Robertson's regained vigour also led him to a new historical work. During the 1780s his attention gradually turned to India. He had broached the question of India's contact with the West in the opening chapter of the History of America, and various personal contacts reinforced that interest. These personal connections, coupled with the opening of the trial of Warren Hastings in 1788 and the publication of John Logan's Dissertation on the Government ÂÂ- of Asia (1787) and James Rennell's Memoir of the Map of Hindoostan (the latter, first published in 1783, was greatly admired by Robertson, who used its new 1788 edition), led him to write An Historical Disquisition Concerning the Knowledge which the Ancients had of India, which Strahan, Cadell, and Balfour published in a single volume on 4 June 1791. The Disquisition falls into two main parts: the first two-thirds is a narrative of the commercial contacts India had with the outside world from ancient times to the sixteenth century; the remainder is a long appendix describing Indian culture. The narrative portion documents, gathers, and summarises familiar but scattered material; the appendix is broadly descriptive and more innovative, following the pattern developed in the descriptive chapters of the History of America. (DNB) Contains two folding maps and an engraved frontispiece of Charles V in Volume III of The History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V. Armorial bookplates bearing the name 'William Phillips' to each front pastedown. Containing volumes I, III and IV of four of 'The History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V', volumes I,III, and IV of four of 'The History of America', volumes I-III of three of 'The History of Scotland during the Reigns of Queen Mary, and of King James VI', and 'An Historical Disquisition concerning the Knowledge which the Ancients had of India and the Progress of Trade with that Country' in one volume. In full calf bindings. Externally sound with slight rubbing. Loss to backstrip on Volume I of History of America. Front board of volume IV of The History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V held by cords only, and front board of volume I detached completely. Front board of volume II of The History of Scotland also detached. Internally, all tightly bound. Pages are generally bright and clear, with some scattered light foxing on certain volumes Good . Ill.: None. Good .

Rooke BooksProfessional seller

Book number: SET14-D-4

Catalogue: British History

Keywords: history of scotland church of scotland william robertson the history of america church of scotland None

ROBERTSON WILLIAM

An Historical Disquisition concerning the Knowledge which the Ancients had of India: and the progress of trade with that country prior to the discovery of the passage to it by the Cape of Good Hope

London, Printed for A. Strahan; T. Cadell Jun, and W. Davies. 1799, Third Edition. Full Period Tree Calf, 8vo. Book measures 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches. Collation, vi,[2],441pp, 20pp index, 1pp booklist, 2 large folding maps. Bound in full period tree calf, flat gilt bands, gilt tooling. Calf rubbed, some wear loss on head and tail of spine, wear lines on hinge joints. Binding in good clean condition. Internally, bookplate of Mistley Hall Essex, some light spotting or browing. Pages and maps in good clean condition. A nice copy, in an attractive period binding.

George Jeffery BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 096431

Catalogue: History

Keywords: india

Robertson, William.

An Historical Disquisition concerning the Knowledge which the Ancients had of India; and the Progress of Trade with that Country prior to the Discovery of the Passage to it by the Cape of Good Hope.

London: printed for A. Strahan, and T. Cadell in the Strand; and E. Balfour at Edinburgh, 1791. 0. Hardcover. Quarto. xiii, 364, [12]pp. []1, a4, B4Z4, Aa4-Zz4, 3A4-3B4. With the half-title present. First edition. Contemporary calf, rebacked. With two folding engraved maps by S. Neele, the first after Ptolemy and the second map executed in 1791 and published by Cadell. Additional illustrations. Kress B2182; Graesse VI, 138; Cox I, p. 304; Lowndes 2107; Goldsmiths' 14602; ESTC T78952. Good.

Sam Gatteño BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 933

Catalogue: Eighteenth Century Books, Travel, Illustrated Books

ROBERTSON (William)

An Historical Disquisition concerning the Knowledge which the Ancients had of India; and the Progress of Trade with that Country prior to the Discovery of the Passage to it by the Cape of Good Hope. With an Appendix, containing Observations on the Civil Policy - The Laws and Judicial Proceedings - the Arts - the Sciences - and Religious Institutions, of the Indians.

London: Printed for A. Strahan, and T. Cadell; and E. Balfour at Edinburgh, 1791. First edition, 4to, xii, 364, [12]pp., half-title, 2 folding engraved maps at end, contemporary diced calf, rebacked, label. "In his sixty-eighth year the perusal of Major James Rennell's 'Memoir on the Map of Hindustan' (1793) set Robertson again to work, and within a year, encouraged by Gibbon, he brought out his 'Historical Disquisition concerning the Knowledge which the Antients had of India....' The book concluded with a wise hope that the account 'of the early and high civilisation of India, and of the wonderful progress of its inhabitants in elegant arts and useful science, may have some influence upon the behaviour of Europeans towards that people.' " - DNB.

Forest BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 31110

Keywords: Economics INDIA LAW CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

Robertson, William (1721-1793).

An Historical Disquisition Concerning the Knowledge which the Ancients had of India; and the Progress of Trade with that Country prior to the Discovery of the Passage to it by the Cape of Good Hope. With an Appendix containing: Observations on the Civil Policy - the Laws and Judicial Proceedings - the Arts - the Sciences - and

Basil, 1792, printed and fold by J.J.Tourneisen cm.13x21,8, pp.VIII,366,(24), 2 carte più rilegatura coeva in mezza pell

Libreria ChiariProfessional seller

Book number: 244188

Catalogue: Storia F Opere Generali

ROBERTSON, William.

An historical disquisition concerning the knowledge which the ancients had of India; and the progress of trade with that country prior to the discovery of the passage to it by the Cape of Good Hope. With an appendix, containing observations on the civil policy - the laws and judicial proceedings - the arts - the sciences - and religious institutions, of the Indians.

London, A. Strahan & T. Cadell, Edinburgh, E. Balfour, 1791. 4to. Contemporary calf (part of one hinge splitting but firmly holding).). With 2 large folding maps. XII,364,(12) pp. First edition; with the bookplate of the Bellingham Castle Library and the armorial bookplate of William Bellingham Bart. - William Robertson (1721-1793), the leading Scottish historian of his day, brought out this history of ancient India. He concludes with a wise hope that this account of 'the early and high civilization of India, and the wonderful progress of its inhabitants in elegant arts and useful science, may have some influence upon the behavior of Europeans towards that people' (DNB XVI, p.1314). Also dealing with the discovery of the sea route to India via the Cape of Good Hope. - A good clean copy with wide margins. SAB IV, p.57; Kress B.2182.

Gert Jan Bestebreurtje Rare Books (NVvA/ILAB)Professional seller

Book number: 13152

Keywords: Asia India

ROBERTSON,WILLIAM

An Historical Disquisition Concerning the Knowledge Which the Ancients Had of India and the Progress of Trade with That County Prior to the Discovery of the Passage to It by the Cape of Good Hope

London: Cadell and Davies,FC & J Rivington et al, 1817. New Edition.. Hardcover. 8vo. This is a Good Only Copy of this book in full Brown Leather Binding with gilt titles to spine.Plain brown endpaperrs and with one previous owner's name to the blank front endpaper dated 1820.There is some chipping to the boards at head and tail of spine.Illustrated with 2 large folding maps of India and Asia and a folding plate of Ancient India and Hindu signs.Contents remain clean internally,some cracking to the front hinge join.Gilt lined border rules to the outer boards.Uncommon work and Volume XII of Robertson's original 12 Volume Set Published in 1817.The Author was Principal of Edinburgh University and Historiographer to His Majesty For Scotland,8vo 403pp New Edition [1817]. Good .

Richard Thornton BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 83673

Catalogue: History

Keywords: India William Robertson

ROBERTSON, WILLIAM

An Historical Disquisition Concerning the Knowledge Which the Ancients Had of India and the Progress of Trade with That Country Prior to the Discovery of the Passage to It by the Cape of Good Hope

London: Strahan & Cadell, 1794. 2nd edition. Half-leather cover with marbled boards. 220mm x 140mm (9" x 6"). vi, 441pp. 2 folding maps. Born in the manse of Borthwick in Midlothian in 1721, William Robertson was an ordained minister of Lady Yester's church in Edinburgh. Horace Walpole, commenting on Robertson's earlier work, praised his style as 'uncommonly good'. He became principal of Edinburgh University in 1762 and, two years later, the King's historiographer. A noted Scottish historian of his time, Robertson's later work on Charles V was highly praised by Voltaire and Gibbon. This book on India was his last major project before his death in 1793.. Ex lib. with stamps. Sympathetic modern binding with new marbled endpapers and ffeps. Contents in Good condition with mild browning commensurate with age and sporadic light foxing .

Barter BooksProfessional seller

Book number: ron05

Catalogue: Asian History

Keywords: Asian History 1750 - 1850 Antiquarian

William ROBERTSON

An historical disquisition concerning the knowledge which the ancients had of India, and the progress of trade with that country prior to the dicovery of the passage to it by the cape of good hope

T. Cadell Jun and W. Davis Strand • E. Balfour | London • edinburgh 1802 | 14.80 x 9.50 cm | relié T. Cadell Jun and W. Davis Strand • E. Balfour | London • edinburgh 1802 | 14.80 x 9.50 cm | relié | Quatrième édition après l'édition originale parue en 1791. Reliure en pleine basane d'époque. Dos lisse très orné, un fer répété dans 4 caissons regroupant des armes, un bouclier et un casque. Double filet d'encadrement sur les plats. Une pièce de titre noire et une rouge. C'est le dernier travail historique du célèbre historien écossais William Robertson, pasteur de l'église presbyterienne et doyen de l'université d'Edimbourg. L'auteur s'intéresse ici de près à la civilisation indienne et à son fonctionnement actuel et également à son entrée dans l'empire colonial. On trouve un intéressant chapitre sur la production et le commerce de la soie. 2 coins émoussés. | [ENGLISH DESCRIPTION ON DEMAND]

Librairie Le Feu FolletProfessional seller

Book number: "9992

Catalogue: Livres Anciens (1455-1820) - Histoire

ROBERTSON, WILLIAM

An Historical Disquisition Concerning the Knowledge Which the Ancients Had of India and the Progress of Trade with That Country Prior to the Discovery of the Passage to It by the Cape of Good Hope

London: T Cadell; F C & J Rivington; J Nunn; &c, 1821. 8th edition. Brown hardback leather cover. (More images available on request). 220mm x 140mm (9" x 6"). ix, 372pp. 2 fold-out maps. The Works of William Robertson,volume X. Born in the manse of Borthwick in Midlothian in 1721, William Robertson was an ordained minister of Lady Yester's church in Edinburgh. Horace Walpole, commenting on Robertson's earlier work, praised his style as 'uncommonly good'. He became principal of Edinburgh University in 1762 and, two years later, the King's historiographer. A noted Scottish historian of his time, Robertson's later work on Charles V was highly praised by Voltaire and Gibbon. This book on India was his last major project before his death in 1793.. G : in good condition. Cover rubbed. Title panels missing. Some foxing .

Barter BooksProfessional seller

Book number: ron05a

Catalogue: Asian History

Keywords: Asian History 1750 - 1850 Antiquarian

William Robertson

Robertson&Apos;S Works: The History of the Reign of Emperor Charles V; the History of America; the History of Scotland; an Historical Disquisition Concerning the Knowledge Which the Ancients Had of India

London, T. Cadell, W. Davies, E. Balfour, 1802-1804. Fine Binding. An attractively bound collection of the historical works of William Robertson. William Robertson ( 1721 – 1793) was a Scottish historian, minister of religion, and Principal of the University of Edinburgh. This collection of his works contains: The History of the Reign of Emperor Charles V. In four volumes, with engraved frontispieces The History of America. In four volumes, with five folding maps. The History of Scotland. In three volumes, with engraved frontispiece to volume one. An Historical Disquisition concerning The Knowledge which the Ancients had of India. In one volume, with two folding maps. Thus, this collection excludes only one of his works - The Situation of the World at the Time of Christ's Appearance - presenting a rare opportunity to own the majority of Robertson's works in a uniform binding. In full diced calf bindings with gilt detailing. Externally very smart, with some slight rubbing and wear to spines and extremities. Front hinge of Charles V volume one strained. Internally, firmly bound and clean and bright with just some spotting to some endpapers with only occasional spots elsewhere, pages are uniformly clean. Map plates in good condition with just a few small closed tears. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good .

Rooke BooksProfessional seller

Book number: EXP4-E-1

Catalogue: World History

Keywords: History Charles V Holy Roman Empire Empire Charles V Disquisition India None