Grotius, Hugo
De Jure Belli Ac Pacis Libri Tres. Amsterdam: Joan Blaeu, 1650. 8vo, archival binding, paper label on spine; pp. [24], 618, [45]; title printed in red and black, floriated initials and decorative tail-pieces. New edition, with annotations by the author.
The book which made Grotius famous throughout Europe was first published in 1625. Grotius was living in Paris, having made a daring escape from Dutch prison - where he had fallen foul of intra-Calvinist dispute - in a chest of books. The work is widely regarded as the foundation stone of modern political philosophy through its anticipation of the political theorists of the 18th century. It argued for a 'natural law', based on the social contract, in opposition to theocratic revelation or monarchical edict, and as such paved the way for modern international law.