Philippe de Béthune; Matteo Zuccati, trans. IL CONSIGLIERE DI STATO OVERO RACCOLTA DELLE CONSIDERATIONI PIU GENERALI INTORNO AL MANEGGIO DE PUBLICI AFFARI. Venice: Appresso Paolo Baglioni, 1646. 4to; π4 *2 A-3F4 3G6; [12] 426 [2]pp. Limp vellum, yapp edges, manuscript on spine. Roman type; text in Italian. With frontispiece engraved by Giacomo Piccini and printed marginalia. USTC 4020346.

From the Collection of Professor Roberto Severino, Washington, D.C.

Philippe de Béthune (1561-1649) wrote this 17th-century French political treatise in 1633 which was published in numerous languages and quickly became incredibly influential. De Béthune served as French ambassador in Rome for King Henry XIV before retiring to a medieval castle in the Loire Valley.

Expected light discoloration to vellum; wormholes near joints and hinges, with additional insect damage at endpapers and the corner of several pages; paper covering stamp on title page; light toning, scattered foxing, several pages with small damp stains at upper margin or corner, two pages with small corner losses; extremely clean and crisp pages overall; a very good and sturdy copy.