This volume contains “Nicolai Machiavelli Princeps” (“The Prince”) by Niccolo Machiavelli and “Vindicae contra tyrannos: sive, de principis in populum, populiq in principem, legitima potestate,”often attributed to Hubert Languet or Philippe de Duplessis-Mornay. The Prince edition seen here is a rare variant printing of the 1580 Petrus Perna edition of Sylvestre Tellio’s Latin translation. “The Prince” first appeared in 1513 in a correspondence version under the title, “De Principatibus.” It was first published five years after Machiavelli’s death in 1532 in Italian by Antonio Blado d’Asola.

The work was written in response to the troubled condition and dissonance in Italy, Machiavelli’s native country. Machiavelli developed a practical examination and guide of how power should function for ruling. His main topic was autocratic regimes where he focused on three concerning themes: political power, the art of war, and goodwill. Machiavelli concludes the work with his account for the failure of Italy’s discord.

Today, “The Prince” is considered to be one of the foundational works of modern political philosophy and a classical work of political science. Also included in this volume is “Vindicae contra tyrannos,” an influential tract on the vindication of the people’s right to resist tyranny and that resistance should be based on constituted authority. It was first published in 1579 in Basel and written under the pseudonym of “Stephen Junius Brutus.” Seen here is the 1580 edition printed in Basel.