MOTTLEY, John. The History of the Life and Reign of the Empress Catharine: Containing a short History of the Russian Empire, from its first Foundation to the Time of the Death of that Princess.

MOTTLEY, John. The History of the Life and Reign of the Empress Catharine: Containing a short History of the Russian Empire, from its first Foundation to the Time of the Death of that Princess. London: William Meadows. 1744. Two volumes, 8vo. Contemporary full calf with raised bands, spines richly ornamented in gilt and with contrasting gilt-stamped lettering-pieces, boards with gilt-rolled double-fillet, inner dentelles ornamented in gilt, marbled endpapers; pp. [xxx], 410, [25, index]; [vi], 323, [21, index], title-pages in red and black, engraved frontispiece to volume one, two engraved coats-of-arms to heads of printed dedications, three engraved plates (one folding), folding engraved map; boards a little spotted, a little wear to extremities, lettering-pieces with minor chipping, endpapers and initial blanks with waterstains resulting in a little offsetting to either ends of the volumes; index of volume two with a few tiny traces of worming, otherwise rather clean and fresh internally. First edition of this comprehensive biography of one of the the most scandalous, intelligent, and powerful women of European history, by the playwright, wit, biographer and historian John Mottley (1692–1750). Catherine's biography follows a history of Russia, which is fully and thoroughly indexed. ESTC T75735. SKU: 2124895