A Miscellany of Sundry Essayes, Paradoxes, and Problematicall Discourses, Letters and Characters; together with politicall deductions from the history of the Earl of Essex, executed under Queen Elizabeth. By Francis Osborn Esquire.

OSBORNE, FRANCIS [1593-1659].

Published by London printed by John Grismond, 1659

About this Item

2mo, pp [36], 260, bound in contemporary plain sheep, rubbed and a bit worn at joints, the upper joint holding if a little fragile, internally clean and unpressed, an excellent unsophisticated copy overall, FIRST EDITION, one of several issues,; ESTC reports a portrait in at least one issue [actually this one], but this is surely in error; no portrait of Osborne is known to exist, and there might be some confusion in the book being bound up with other works of his having portraits of English monarchs. This present copy in original binding is evidently quite complete. Osborne's work falls into that category of English literature of the 17th century between commonplace book, miscellany and essay of which several authors of greater renown and ability than Osborne made popular from the beginning of the 17th Century. This was one of several miscellaneous compilations of Osborne, whose natural tendency towards moral advice [especially to the young] made him a safe and popular writer. If writing in the spirit of Montaigne and Bacon his seems without either the wit or intellect and this little collection probably appealed more for its educational than entertainment value. fuller account of it, and Osborne's other writings may be found in the Cambridge Companion to the English Essay.

Seller Inventory # 30894

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Miscellany of Sundry Essayes, Paradoxes, and Problematicall Discourses, Letters and Characters; together with politicall deductions from the history of the Earl of Essex, executed under Queen Elizabeth. By Francis Osborn Esquire.
• Publisher: London printed by John Grismond
• Publication Date: 1659
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Seller catalogs:
  • w1L1