Item #40454 Lettres, Ecrites de Londres sur Les Anglois et Autres Sujets. M. D. VOLTAIRE.
Lettres, Ecrites de Londres sur Les Anglois et Autres Sujets.

Lettres, Ecrites de Londres sur Les Anglois et Autres Sujets.

Basle [actually London?]: [W. Bowyer? ], 1734. First Edition. Hardcover. Small 8vo. French text. (viii) 228, (xx)pp. Contemporary half calf with marbled paper boards, leather spine label with gilt titling. The first edition of Voltaire's most important early works, the "Letters on the English." It comprises 24 "letters" on diverse subjects such as the Quakers, Religion, Philosophy, Learning, Politics etc., as well as discussions of the thought of various individuals including Locke, Bacon, Sir Isaac Newton, and Pope, based on observations made by Voltaire during a residence in Britain. This, the first French language edition, was the basis for most of the better later English translations. The author's name on the title page is "anonymised" as "Par M.D. V***" The imprint "A Basle" on the title page is false; the book is generally said to have been printed in London by W. Bowyer. This copy professionally, if rather stiffly, rebacked with original spine laid down, original boards retained. Boards rubbed, corners chafed and a bit rounded, edges rubbed with some light bumps, spine chafed. Replacement endpapers unevenly browned to match original. Author's name has been lightly added in ink to the title page, and there is an old owner's signature on the verso of the title page (both would appear to be eighteenth century). The pages appear to have been trimmed at some stage, but the margins are still generous. A few scattered pencil notes and checkmarks, and occasional light signs of age throughout. Still a solid, fresh about VG copy. Item #40454

Price: $450.00

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