Marc René de Voyer d' ARGENSON

Edition under reissue covers from the Frédéric Henry bookshop.
A hole at the stitching attachment in the margin of the first cover, some light foxing.
Minor lacks without consequence to the fragile parchment covers.

First edition under this title, the Essais dans le goût de Montaigne initially appeared in 1785 in Amsterdam, but the edition was printed in only a small number of copies intended for family and friends. The manuscript was reviewed, corrected and arranged for publication by the son of the Marquis d'Argenson, the Marquis de Paulmy.
Full brown granulated sheep binding. Smooth spine decorated with 4 urn tools, fillets and roulettes. Triple fillet frame on covers. Red morocco title label.
Very fine copy.
This collection of reflections and thoughts on various subjects is in fact a composition by the Marquis de Paulmy, his son, based on the manuscripts of the memoirs, which were not published until 1857. It is therefore more effectively the first book of the Memoirs of the Marquis d'Argenson to be published. One finds there a gallery of portraits of contemporary figures, but also numerous historical considerations, notably on Cardinal de Retz, literary criticism, in brief, the work gives the impression of being a salon of former times, where conversation, always refined, touches on different subjects. The Marquis d'Argenson frequented philosophers early on, notably Voltaire, he was preoccupied with political thoughts, and he is held to be a precursor of economic liberalism and the physiocrats; although he was minister of foreign affairs and very versed in diplomacy, his principal interest always focused on belles-lettres.