Jean-Jacques Rousseau - Complet en 4 Volumes - Les confessions, suivies des Rêveries du Promeneur solitaire - Rare édition originale reliée - 1782-1789

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Confessions of J. J. Rousseau, followed by the Reveries of the Solitary Walker, volumes one and two. Second part of the Confessions of J. J. Rousseau, volumes three and four. The collection contains Books I to XII of the Confessions and the Reveries of the Solitary Walker.

In Geneva, without named publisher [Société typographique de Genève]. Volumes 1 and 2 dated M.DCC.LXXXII (1782), volumes 3 and 4 dated M.DCC.LXXXIX (1789). Complete in 4 octavo volumes.

Period binding in full calf, spine with 5 raised bands and two leather title pieces in red or tawny, gilt title and volume number, gilt hubs and rosettes. All edges red.

Original edition: After a long and complex bibliographic history, it has been established by R. A. Leigh and other specialists that this edition of the Confessions, known as the “large print” edition, long considered a first separate edition, was in fact the first to be printed (by the Société typographique de Genève for C. J. Panckoucke and other European booksellers) and the first to be published. The Reveries of the Solitary Walker, published here for the first time, occupy the last 300 pages of Volume II, with separate pagination.

- Dimensions: 13.3 x 20.1 cm
- Condition: Good overall, heavy brown stains on the half-title, the title page and the first leaves of Volume I, otherwise the interior is fresh with rare foxing. Bindings show signs of wear, edges and corners scuffed. See photos for more details.
- Number of pages: Volume I: 471 pages; Volume II: 279 pages + 300 pages; Volume III: 594 pages; Volume IV: 542 pages

Careful sending in a rigid and waterproof carton.