Las Obras y Relaciones de Ant. Perez, Secretario de Estado, Que Fue del Rey de España Don Phelippe II. defte nombre. Illustrat, Dum Vexat. The Works and Relations of Ant. Perez, Secretary of State under Philip II of

Item #1960 Las Obras y Relaciones de Ant. Perez, Secretario de Estado, Que Fue del Rey de España Don Phelippe II. defte nombre. Illustrat, Dum Vexat. [The Works and Relations of Ant. Perez, Secretary of State under Philip II of Spain.]. Antonio Perez.

[Perez, Antonio]

Las Obras y Relaciones de Ant. Perez, Secretario de Estado, Que Fue del Rey de España Don Phelippe II. defte nombre. Illustrat, Dum Vexat. [The Works and Relations of Ant. Perez, Secretary of State under Philip II of Spain.]

Geneva: Por Iuan de la Planche, MDCXXXI [1631]. First edition. Posessor's inscription on front flyleaf by Ludwig Ulrich Hans von Brockdorff, Danish diplomat in Madrid. Spine with raised bands and gilt title. In somewhat later half leather binding. [32] 1126 p. Slightly rubbed at extremities. Possessor’s inscription and some restoration with minor loss of text on title page. Notes in pen here and there. Some mispaginations. L. E3 – bottom corner missing. Tear on Dd 2. Overall in very good condition.

Scarce first edition of the biography of Antonio Perez, secretary of Philip II of Spain.

The Spanish statesman, Antonio Perez (1534–1611) is well-known for his role in the murder of the secretary of John of Austria, Juan de Escobedo (1530–1578). Perez used his influence on the king to make him suspicious about Escobedo and John of Austria, and convinced Philip II that they are plotting against him. He then managed to get approval for the extrajudicial killing of Escobedo and organized the assassination. One year later Perez was arrested, but he managed to escape his death sentence and lived the rest of his life in exile in France and England.

Las Obras y Relaciones […] contains several references to America as well as Perez’s letters, “Las cartas”.

Present copy is signed by the Danish diplomat, Ludwig Ulrich Hans von Brockdorff (1806–1875), dated “Madrid, Playa de Oriente 14. May 1853. He served as a diplomat in several cities, including London, Paris and Madrid.