Rise of the Dutch Republic – Motley – 1882 Routledge Victorian History
 
Title & Author
 
The Rise of The Dutch Republic: A History
By John Lothrop Motley
 
Publisher & Date
 
George Routledge & Sons, Broadway, Ludgate Hill, London, 1882
Printed by Ballantyne Press, Ballantyne, Hanson & Co., Edinburgh and London.
The volume carries a clear publication date of 1882, consistent with Routledge’s later Victorian printings of Motley's historical works.
 
Edition Information
 
Early Victorian Routledge Edition (1882), complete in one volume
Includes all six parts of Motley's major historical narrative, plus index.
 
Physical Description
 
Bound in rich brown cloth, decorated in the Victorian style with:
Black decorative borders and floral motifs on the front board
Gilt and black ornamental designs and full gilt title to the spine
Blind-stamped decorations to the rear board
Patterned blue-and-white Victorian pastedowns and endpapers
930pp + xi prelims. 8vo (approx. 18.5 × 13.1 × 4.6 cm).
Weight: approx. 605g.
 
Key Features
 
Complete single-volume Victorian edition of Motley's seminal historical work
Attractive decorated Victorian cloth binding typical of Routledge’s 1880s production
Includes the full chronology of the Dutch struggle for independence, 1555-1584
Printed by Ballantyne Press, one of the finest Victorian commercial printers
A substantial and historically significant work, ideal for collectors of European history
 
Historical / Bibliographic Context
 
John Lothrop Motley (1814–1877) was an American diplomat and historian whose works on the Dutch Republic became foundational 19th-century studies of the subject. The Rise of the Dutch Republic, first published 1856, was praised for its literary narrative and scholarly depth, shaping English-speaking understanding of the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule.
 
This 1882 Routledge edition reflects the late-Victorian appetite for sweeping historical epics presented in attractive decorated bindings. Its substantial length and fine printing by Ballantyne Press enhance its appeal to historians and collectors.
 
Condition Report
 
Exterior Condition
The decorative Victorian cloth binding remains intact, robust, and in good condition for its age.
Wear includes:
Light bumping to corners with a few small corner rubs/small nicks
Small splits at head and tail of spine
Several light surface marks to boards
Minor wear to black decoration and gilt spine elements
Overall a handsome and appealing example of a Victorian Routledge binding.
 
Interior Condition
Patterned blue-and-white Victorian endpapers remain intact
Pages are tanned, typical of Routledge’s paper stock of the period
Interior is neat and predominantly uncreased
Occasional light foxing or small marks, not affecting readability
Only a few very small edge rips, none obscuring text
Binding tight overall, though:
Light crack at the front inner hinge
Very occasional faint gutter cracks
All pages remain securely bound
A clean, complete example of a long and heavy Victorian text.
 
Completeness
 
xi + 930 pages, all present
Includes:
Part I: Philip II in the Netherlands (1555–1559)
Part II: Duchess Margaret (1560–1567)
Part III: Alva (1567–1573)
Part IV: Grand Commander (1573–1576)
Part V: Don John of Austria (1576–1578)
Part VI: Alexander of Parma (1578–1584)
Full Index
No pages missing.
 
Final Collector’s Summary
 
A substantial and attractively bound 1882 Routledge Victorian edition of Motley's celebrated historical study of the Dutch revolt. With its ornate cloth binding, sound condition, and complete text of more than 900 pages, this is an excellent copy for collectors of European history, Victorian publishing, or 19th-century decorative bindings. A solid and impressive shelf piece.