Eikon Basilke Deutera, The Portraicture Of His Sacred Majesty King Charles II

London: King James, 1694. 1st Edition . Full-Leather. Fair/No Jacket. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Excuse the length of the following listing. It will be given in 2 sections, first the full title and prior owner's notes including citation/points, lastly structure. Title page continues, "With his Reasons for turning Roman Catholick; published by K. James. Found in the Strong Box. Printed in the Year MDCXCIV." Owner notes on loose browned paper, "Port, 12mo, old calf, (London) 1694. Nice copy of this scarce work. The famous portrait of King Charles knelling (sic, kneeling), of which it is said 'he is worshipping his Mistress Nellie Gwynn in a cloud above him, instead of his maker.' " There is ancient penned 1/2 page note top verso first endsheet re authorship (attributes Chas. II) and avoiding confusion of this item with the Basilike of Charles I. Below this are penciled notes re Almack page 82, Wing #E312 and placements. Below title page date in R.N. is script penned '1694'. At top of TOC is very old penned name 'John Francis Gwyn'. Not sure I am reading the middle name correctly. Regarding structure, size is duodecimo, collation is octavo in the main. Spine has 4 ribs, stamped label, date at bottom in standard numerals. The archivist who has seen the piece feels the date indicates reworking as does the marbling of the pastedowns and their facing ensheets. First PD has had ex-libris plate removed and the abrasion is large and goes through the marbled paper. Numbers 320 pages and at the bottom of last page is 2 line errata note. The verso of first marbled endsheet is blank (exc. above refd. noting), second blank endsheet w/ verso showing the scandalous illustration, title page with verso blank then TOC. Page 320 is followed by one endsheet blank verso marbled. The text has one 'flaw' that I noted in scanning through, the last page of TOC is cut partially short at fore-edge, body of text unaffected, dog ear minimal. Text has the customary ripple and a bit of age darkening, very minimal foxing to my eye. Remarkably legible. Text edges have some red stain visible but darkened, top darker. The leather boards and spine are aged and scarred but richly attractive in their age. Hinging seems stout with no internal gap and no notable exterior cracking. The archivist feels any restoration is very old and utilized original materials where possible. Photo will be provided of the book's exterior shortly.