Joseph de Maistre - Les Soirées de Saint-Pétersbourg, ou Entretiens sur le gouvernement temporel de la Providence, - 1821

Joseph de Maistre – Les Soirées de Saint-Pétersbourg, or Conversations on the Temporal Government of Providence, followed by a Treatise on sacrifices
Paris, Librairie Grecque, Latine et Française, rue de Seine no. 12, 1821.
Imprimerie de Cosson.
Posthumous original edition, complete in two volumes and preserved in the original editorial wrappers.
First edition of one of Joseph de Maistre's major works, published posthumously in 1821. The work gathers the famous dialogues set in Saint Petersburg, dedicated to Providence, to the problem of evil, to divine justice and to political and social order, and is followed by the Traité sur les sacrifices.
Complete copy in two volumes and particularly interesting for being preserved in its original editorial format, a condition uncommon for this work, frequently found in later hardbound copies.
The volumes preserve the original wrappers, with wide-margin, untrimmed leaves and editorial fringes, thus maintaining the material characteristics typical of the edition at the time of publication.
In the first volume there is the portrait of Joseph de Maistre on the frontispiece, lithographed by Villain from a drawing by Bouillon, provided for in the original edition.
Volume I: XXVI + 526 pp. approximately, in addition to preliminary and final leaves.
Volume II: 474 pp. approximately, in addition to preliminary and final leaves.

In the first volume there is the irregular pagination note typical of the edition, already bibliographically documented and which does not entail any lack of text.
Conditions: complete copy in good overall condition for an edition over two centuries old. Original editorial wrappers preserved, with natural signs of time and use. Leaves with wide margins and untrimmed, with editorial fringes. Natural browning of the paper, browning and scattered stains, more evident on some initial leaves and on the frontispiece with the portrait. Occasional creases and small marginal imperfections consistent with the preservation of untrimmed leaves. Overall well-preserved interior and perfectly legible.
A rare and interesting example of the original 1821 edition, complete in two volumes, with portrait and preserved in the original editorial wrappers with wide margins.
The photographs are an integral part of the description and accurately document the conservation status of the exemplar.