1766 Queen Christina of Sweden/AbdicationEXTREMELY RARE Women’s / Swedish History--Independent,unorthodox queen Start Price USD 9.99 Current Price USD 1,413.88 Time Left - Bid Count 17 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, August 30, 2008 End Time Tuesday, September 09, 2008 Location Grand Rapids, Michigan See more about '1766 Queen Christina of Sweden/AbdicationEXTREMELY RARE' Description 1766 Queen Christina of Sweden/Abdication VERY RARE Women’s History/Independent, colorful queen The title page to this very scarce work reads, “The History of Christina, Queen of Sweden. From the French of M. Lacombe. London: Printed for George Kearsly, in Ludgate-street. M DCC LXVI.” This work is extremely scarce; there are no copies (except facsimiles) available on Internet listings. Christina Wasa (1626-1689), queen of Sweden, ruled from 1640-1654 and then abdicated her throne to her cousin, Carl Gustav. The only heir of the popular King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, she was raised as a prince and educated in all the arts of war as well as of music, history, politics, and the sciences. An extraordinarily independent woman, she gave up her throne freely in order to be able to pursue the life she wanted to—converting to Roman Catholicism (it was illegal to do so in Sweden), moving to Rome, heading up literary solons and involving herself in political and court intrigue. Christina was not concerned with appearances; she wished to live a life of total freedom and found the monarchy burdensome and perhaps beyond her abilities (or at least her interests). Highly unconventional, she was thought of as mannish and bold. Christina held to a rigid discipline of study and was an enthusiastic patron of the arts. Deeply interested in theological issues, she also championed religious freedom and sometimes scandalized the Catholic community in Rome with her colorful lifestyle after she moved there, following her abdication. The author of her biography, Jacques Lacombe (1724-1811), was a French lawyer and a man of letters, author of several historical and scientific works. He originally wrote Christina’s biography in French, which was published in 1762. The work on auction here is the first English edition. Lacombe researched Christina’s life thoroughly and presents much of the biography in her own words, taken from her voluminous correspondence and other writing, including eyewitness accounts. This makes for a fascinating, first-hand account of the this fascinating woman. Lacombe writes of Christina in his preface, Among the most deservedly distinguished personages, none has excited curiosity more than the celebrated Christina, queen of Sweden, whose life I propose presenting to the public…. At the same time, I ought to acknowledge the obligations I am under to M. Arkenholt: no memoirs can be wished for more complete than those of this learned Swede: he has read and collected all that relates to Christina, and has neglected no authentic circumstance that could be met with in the public libraries or private cabinets, either of Italy or Sweden; so that his composition is a rational as well as an exact account of the life and reign of that heroine….I have not omitted any remarkable circumstance, and have principally endeavoured to make the character of the queen of Sweden known to the world, from those lineaments she has so strongly marked in her own letters and in her other writings; in drawing her portrait, I have borrowed, as often as possible, her own pencil and her colours. Lacombe first traces the early history of the country of Sweden, giving a background for the monarchy that led to Christina’s accession to the throne. The Swedes had suffered from a variety of poor rulers, and when Christina’s father was king, they rejoiced in having a successful king. They voted to make the throne tied to Gustav’s family, even to the female line. When Christina was born, the stars foretold a great destiny, and it was thought that she would be a boy. Indeed, her physical appearance at birth was such that at first she was thought to be a male. When the king learned that he had sired a daughter, he laughed and said that she would be to him as a son, and that she should be raised as a prince. He was a loving, affectionate father, who unfortunately died while Christina was yet young. Christina delighted in learning, and brought to her court such philosophers as Descartes. For her love of Greek literature and the classics, she was called the "Minerva of the North," and under her patronage of the arts and sciences, Stockholm became known as "Athens of the North." Lacombe relates this anecdote: Saumaise, the famous critic, was in the highest estimation with Christina; she gave him an apartment in the palace, that she might see and discourse with him on points of literature more commodiously. In an illness, which confined him to his bed, she made him frequent visits; and one day, entering unexpectedly, he concealed, with precipitation, a book he was reading, which out of respect to her majesty, he was unwilling she should see. Chcristina insisted on knowing what it was; Saumaise confessed that he was reading some tales rather too light for her approbation. The queen opened the book, and run it over, smiling at some free passages she met with; and after, by way of diverting herself, said to her favourite, the countess of Sparre, who understood French, “Come, Sparre, come and see this curious book of devotion, entitled, the Method to attain—here, read me this page.” The fair countess had not read above three lines, when shocked at the licentiousness of the stile, she blushed, and was silent; but the queen, laughing immoderately, commanded her to go on; modesty was an insufficient excuse; it was an indispensable duty in this lady to read every thing her sovereign thought entertaining. Scholars disagree on Christina’s precise motives for abdicating her throne while still young, and Lacombe gives his own opinion of this and relates the abdication scene in detail. Christina was received with great celebration in Rome, one of the most celebrated of Europe’s converts from Protestantism back to the mother church. She was much sought after and became the darling of Rome’s society for a while. Lacombe relates another comment regarding Christina after her abdication, when visiting the court of France: Christina now quitted France [in 1657], where she left a train of admirers of her wit and learning, as well of her elevation of soul, and frankness of character. They regarded her as a heroine, the worthy daughter of Gustavus, and even superior to the fame arising from the glory of her reign, her culture of the sciences, and the disinterestedness of her conduct. Yet, if any credit is to be given to the memoirs of the countess d’Aunoy, “She had not the least resemblance of a woman, not even common modesty; chusing to be waited on by men at all hours; affecting a masculine appearance in all her actions; laughing immoderately when any thing diverted her, and being extravagantly loud in her applause as well as lamentation: in company she would frequently sing, and appear quite absent: there was something unequal, rough, and even libertine in her conversation on religious as well as polite topicks: a perpetual restlessness made it impossible for her to continue long in the same place.” Lacombe adds this note about the woman most often linked with Christina, the countess of Sparre: Christina often wished to have the countess of Sparre, according to her own expression, a witness of her felicity: she was the woman to whom the queen was most strongly attached by esteem and inclination: every letter that she writes to her is filled with those expressions the heart alone can dictate; she praises lavishly her beauty and merit, giving them the preference, to all she has ever seen, of most amiable in the world. The countess never would leave Sweden, her native land, where she was beloved, and made a brilliant appearance: she was too well acquainted with her illustrious friend, imprudently to resign herself to the inconstancy of her humour and manner of life. Lacombe also discusses the queen’s close relationship to Cardinal Azzolini, her various attempts at power plays and grabs at the thrones of Naples and Poland. Her capricious character and fiercely independent way of life come alive through his anecdotes. A fascinating study of a strong-willed, unconventional, and colorful woman in seventeenth-century Europe. Bound in the original full leather, this book is lovely condition. Covers show little wear and still have double-ruled gilt running along borders of front and back covers. Hinges are strong, both inside and out. Front hinge is beginning to split at the top, but still strong. Spine has five raised bands, gilt rule, and red leather title piece with gilt lettering. Original endpapers, with armorial bookplate of Sir John Eden, Bart (1740-1812). Paper is crisp and clean, with almost no yellowing or foxing. No other owner’s or library marks. All pages present and tightly bound. Book measures about 4” x 6.5” x 1” and has 302 pages. NO RESERVE; winner pays postage for Priority Mail in US (more for international); see my end-of auction e-mail for specific rates and optional insurance. Satisfaction guaranteed. For other rare, unusual antiquarian books that begin at $9.99, see my auction listings. Place a Bid!