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Piguet Hôtel des Ventes

2138 - MONTESQUIEU (Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et…
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Estimate CHF 4,000 - CHF 6,000
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Description
MONTESQUIEU (Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de). De l'Esprit des loix ou du rapport que les loix doivent avoir avec la constitution de chaque gouvernement, les mœurs, le climat, la religion, le commerce... Genève, Barrillot &, fils, [1748]. 2 vol. in-4° bound in full blond speckled calf, spines with gilt ornaments and gilt roulette on the edges (Binding of the period). Vol.1: [4] ff, XXIV, 522 pp, [1] f., Vol.2: [2] ff, XVI, 564 pp, [1] f. First edition of this text with the Genevan address, the printer's name spelled with the double "r", the two false titles, some cartons present in vol.1 listed in Tchémerzine and finally the two errata leaves, Fautes à corriger , at the end of each volume. A fundamental work of the Enlightenment, De l'Esprit des lois proposes a political model based on the balance of power and the guarantee of civil liberties, breaking with absolute monarchy. Its influence on modern constitutional thought was considerable, particularly in the wake of the American and French revolutions. This text had a famous publishing adventure: printed anonymously in Geneva to avoid censorship, while Montesquieu was in Bordeaux, the work was carried out without direct contact with the printer Barrillot, through the intermediary of the pastor Jacob Vernet, a professor at the Geneva Academy. The project took a long time to complete, with the protagonists working from autumn 1747 to the end of October 1748. Overwhelmed by financial difficulties and already very ill, Barrillot died in June 1748 before publication, and his son completed the work. Barely off the presses, Montesquieu judged the printing severely, deploring the fact that his book had been "crippled in Geneva", so he drew up an errata list of 35 entries, sent to Geneva to be inserted in the copies ready for distribution. The text of this original edition was also modified, either by the author or by order of the censors, with certain passages replaced by boxes, as listed by the bibliographers. Despite its condemnation by the Sorbonne and Rome, the work was an immediate success: it was sold out in two to three months. A fine copy in a well-established contemporary binding. Armorial bookplate Brunet, III, 1859-1860, PMM, 197, Tchémerzine, VIII, 459, Le Petit, 496-497, Picot-Rothschild, n°101 Very good condition despite minor wear. Binding: Vol.1: Minimal and very partial split bit on the lower cover at the level of the tail cap. Vol.2: Joints on upper board at head-cap partially split, head-cap showing a small tear but not missing. Fine and discreet minor restorations to some corners and headpieces, the rest with slight rubbing Spine leather a little unstained and cracked Slight rubbing and superficial scratches to the boards Inside pages : Paper oxidation, some ff. slightly browned Handwritten bookplate cut out on both title pages creating a gap which has been restored on both volumes. Minor scattered brown spots
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About the sale ONLINE 2092 to 2674 - Books and manuscripts - Paintings and sculptures
Auction location
Auction time 06/10/2026 at 10:00 AM
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Piguet Hôtel des Ventes Genève
See original version (French)
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