Travels and Memoirs of Sir John Reresby, Bart: The Former (Now First Published) Exhibiting a View of the Governments and Society in the Principal States and Courts of Europe, During the Time of Cromwell's Usurpation; the Latter Containing Anecdotes, and Secret History, of the Courts of Charles II and James II

First edition. xii, 414pp, [31pp index] [1p advertisement] [2], plus 40 plate illustrations of which 12 are hand-coloured and two fold out. Later binding, half tan calf leather over marbled boards, gilt lettering on red leather spine labels. 8vo. Spine leather a little faded. One leaf of handwritten notes regarding the Reresby family bound in. A little browning and occasional spotting, affecting some plates particularly, some signs of page compression around the fold-out plates, light and occasional signs of fingering. A very handsome, robust volume.

Sir John Reresby (1634-1689) was an English politician and diarist, with life long loyalty to the Royalist cause. After the Civil War he was in effect in exile aboard. His account of his travels appears in Memoirs, published some 40 years after his death, are invaluable as a insightful perspective on the dramatic, revolutionary times through which he lived. Following his return to England, soon after the Restoration, he was appointed Sheriff of Yorkshire, and he was elected to Parliament in 1673, representing the seat of Aldborough. He was falsely accused of gelding his black servant, causing his death.