William H. Prescott, A History of the Reign of Philip II, King of Spain [1874]

Translation: Bronisław Teodor Grabowski (1841–1900)

Publisher: Przegląd Tygodniowy Publishing House, Warsaw

Year of publication: 1874.

Format: 21 cm.

Number of pages: 1,117.

Binding: Period half-leather, with gilt lettering and the initials “B.L.” at the bottom of the spine.

William Hickling Prescott wrote his works on Spain while virtually blind. In 1813, as a student at Harvard, he was struck in the eye by a piece of bread crust during a fight in the dining hall and lost his sight in that eye; his other eye was also affected. He wrote using a noctograph—a frame with wires that guided his hand—and his secretaries read to him documents from the archives in Simancas and Madrid. He composed entire chapters from memory and dictated them.

“The History of the Reign of Philip II” (originally published 1855–1858) is his final work, left unfinished at the time of the author’s death. Prescott portrays Philip II as a ruler convinced of his mission as a defender of the faith, against the backdrop of Counter-Reformation Europe, the War of the Spanish Succession, and the Battle of Lepanto. Translated by Bronisław Teodor Grabowski (1841–1900); published by *Przegląd Tygodniowy* in a single volume of 1,117 pages.

On the half-title page, there is a stamp reading “Wacław Lewinson” with the number “No. 12”; on the title page, there is a pen signature reading “B. Lewinson,” which corresponds to the gilded initials “B.L.” on the spine.

The book is in clean condition. There is a small tear on the back cover, and the spine is slightly scratched.

An item from the 18th Polish Antiquarian Book Auction.