London: Published by John Milton, Esq; Printed by Tho(mas). Newcomb for Tho(mas). Johnson, 1658. First edition, first issue. 8vo. (iv), 199 pp. (with p. 123 incorrectly printed "213"). Illustrated with engraved frontispiece portrait of Raleigh by Robert Vaughan. Full brown calf, ruled in blind, spine label perished, rubbing to spine and extremities, boards lightly scuffed; red stained edges; old ownership signature on recto front blank, old paper slip mounted on verso of same; text trimmed close, especially in lower edge, but largely not affecting text; scattered spotting to text; small loss in top corner, H3, short closed tear in top edge of same; short closed tear in lower fore-edge, N6; two dark stains at lower center, O1. Wing R-156; Pforzheimer 817; Shawcross 256; see Sabin 67599

Scarce first edition. Attribution to Raleigh has since come under question, but it remains, "of considerable interest to the student of English political theory and practice" (Pforzheimer).