Hugo Grotius was a Dutch humanist in the first half of the seventeenth century. From 1619 until his escape in 1621, he was imprisoned at Loevestein Castle due to his involvement with radical factions in the Netherlands. While in prison he began this important work. Bearing the title De jure belli ac pacis, it was published in France in 1623 and was dedicated to Grotius’s new patron, the French king Louis XIII. It discusses the idea of natural law, laws that are applicable to people no matter what nationality or religion, in relation to warfare. The first two books looked at the definition and justification for war while the third looked at how to conduct war in a lawful manner. Grotius’s treatise is a significant work and forms the basis for modern international law.

This French translation was printed in 1724 and was likely bound for George I. It was one of the books selected by Olwen Hedley in the 1960s as a fine example of bookbinding in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. Hedley’s ‘Additional Bookbindings’ serve as a supplement to the catalogue of fine bindings compiled in 1893 by the Royal Librarian Richard Rivington Holmes.

Binding information

Contemporary red goatskin binding, with gold-tooling on both sides and spine.

On both sides, and outer roll border vines intertwining several figures, including a harpist, a lute player, a winged ox, a donkey, a lion and a crow; inner double fillet border, surmounted on each outside corner with a crown; each inside corner filled with the monogram of George I; in the centre, the arms of George I, surrounded by a garter, surmounted by a crown and lion, flanked by a lion rampant and unicorn supporters, with an unfurling scroll below bearing the motto: ‘DIEU EST MON DROIT’, intertwined with thistles, roses and thorns.

Side of both boards tooled with the same roll used on the outside border of both sides; insides of both boards tooled with triangular and leaf roll.

Spine divided into seven compartments by raised bands. Second compartment contains an additional piece of dark red leather with the title: GROTIUS / DROIT DE LA / GUERRE’, surrounded by double fillet and triangular roll border; second compartment tooled: ‘TOM II’ and tooled with triangular and leaf roll, followed by a double fillet and triangular roll border; all other compartments tooled with double fillet and triangular roll border, with vine corner tools and a centre-tool comprised of several tools including swirling heart-shaped vines, gouges and fleurons. Head and tail of spine tooled with fillets, triangular and leaf rolls and a cross-hatch roll.

Contemporary marble endpapers; all edges gilt.