Montesquieu

1899 · 965T48 — London: Gibbings & Company Limited 1899. Cloth. Very Good. 7" by 4.5". Ed. De Beaumont. A smart three volume set of this literary work from French judge and man of letters Montesquieu. Complete in three volumes. Volume one is illustrated with a portrait frontispiece and one plate. Volume two is illustrated with a portrait frontispiece and three plates. Volume three is illustrated with a portrait frontispiece and two plates. Collated complete. A story recounting the experiences of two fictional Persian noblemen Usbek and Rica who spend several years in France under Louis XIV and the Regency. Beginning in 1711 when Usbek leaves his seraglio in Isfahan to make the long journey to France accompanied by his young friend Rica. During the trip and their long stay in Paris until 1720 they comment in letters exchanged with friends and mullahs on numerous aspects of Western Christian society particularly French politics and manners. Written by Charles Louis de Secondat baron de La Brede et de Montesquieu generally referred to as simply Montesquieu a French judge man of letters historian and political philosopher. Translated by John Davidson a British scholar. Illustrated by Charles-Edouard de Beaumont a French painter watercolourist draughtsman illustrator and lithographer. In the original full cloth binding. Externally smart with light rubbing and minor bumping to the extremities. The odd small mark to the cloth. Internally firmly bound. Pages are very bright with the odd small spot. Light spotting to the first and last few pages with light age toning to the endpapers. A contemporary ink inscription to the front endpaper. Very Good Gibbings & Company, Limited hardcover