Montesquieu - Oeuvres de Montesquieu - 1764

Montesquieu – The Spirit of the Laws / Works – 4 volumes – 2 large folding maps – 1764
Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (1689–1755)
Oeuvres de Monsieur de Montesquieu. Nouvelle édition, revue, corrigée, et considérablement augmentée par l'auteur. Avec des Remarques Philosophiques & Politiques d'un Anonyme, qui n'ont point encore été publiées.
Amsterdam & Leipzig, Arkstée & Merkus, 1764.
Four volumes, containing Montesquieu's celebrated De l'Esprit des Loix (The Spirit of the Laws), complete with both large folding engraved maps.
These are volumes I–IV of the 1764 Oeuvres de Montesquieu. The complete Oeuvres comprised six volumes; the present four-volume sequence forms the complete De l'Esprit des Loix section.
Illustrations
The set contains two impressive large folding engraved maps prepared for De l'Esprit des Loix:
Carte pour l'intelligence du livre intitulé De l'Esprit des Loix – a large folding world map.
Supplément pour la Carte du Livre intitulé De l'Esprit des Loix – a large folding map of Europe by the celebrated French cartographer Robert de Vaugondy.
Both folding maps are present and well preserved.
The volumes additionally contain attractive engraved title-page vignettes. The title pages are strikingly printed in red and black.
Also present is the fine engraved dedication to William V, Prince of Orange and Nassau, surmounted by his coat of arms and the motto Je Maintiendrai.
Binding and condition
Four uniform 18th-century leather bindings with raised bands and gilt floral decoration to the spines. Red-coloured page edges.
The bindings show considerable signs of age and use, including rubbing, wear to the leather, worn corners and spine ends, and wear along the joints. Please study the photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition description.
Despite the external wear, the four volumes retain a very attractive and authentic 18th-century appearance.
Internally the books are remarkably fresh and clean for their age, with only occasional minor spotting, toning and signs of use.
The two large folding maps are a particularly attractive feature of this set and appear very well preserved.
Historical importance
First published in 1748, De l'Esprit des Loix is Montesquieu's masterpiece and one of the most influential works of the European Enlightenment.
In it Montesquieu developed his famous analysis of political systems and the separation of legislative, executive and judicial powers. His ideas had a profound influence on later constitutional thought, particularly during the development of modern representative government.
An attractive and highly collectible 18th-century four-volume edition of one of the foundational works of modern political philosophy, enhanced by its two large folding engraved maps.
Amsterdam & Leipzig – Arkstée & Merkus – 1764
4 volumes – complete De l'Esprit des Loix section – 2 large folding engraved maps.
311-374 - 368 - 375 pp.