8vo. [28], 538pp, [2]. With a terminal leaf of publisher's advertisements. Contemporary blind-ruled speckled calf, recently rebacked, with contrasting gilt-tooled black morocco lettering-piece. Worn, with corners exposed. FFEP renewed. Armorial bookplate of the Crawford Library (Bibliotheca Lindesiana) and additional book-label to FEP; second armorial bookplate of Robert Keith of Craig to verso of title. Pasted paper label with title in manuscript to foot of p.106. Manuscript date '1746' to first blank fly-leaf. Browning and staining throughout. Light scattered spotting.

The first edition of the first English translation of German jurist, political philosopher, economist, statesman, and historian Baron Samuel von Pufendorf's (1632-1694) Einleitung zur Geschichte der vornehmsten Staaten Europas (1682), or History of the Principal Kingdoms and States of Europe. Pufendorf, a quintessential figure of the German Enlightenment, made significant contributions to natural law theory; his popular histories provided empirical evidence for his philosophical work, although they betrayed a significant pro-Swedish bias.