Charles-Irénée CASTEL DE SAINT-PIERRE

Second edition partly in first edition, rare. The original was published in Paris in 1723, the author being unsatisfied with his work proposed this second edition revised and expanded with a second part, Suplémant au projet de taille tarifée, in which he responds to the objections of his detractors.

Contemporary full speckled brown sheep binding. Spine with five raised bands richly decorated with gilt compartments and fleurons, blonde morocco title label. Gilt rolls on the leading edges and headcaps. All edges speckled red. Head slightly worn, first band very slightly visible at the joint, a small amount of bookworm damage affecting the last compartment as well as the tail joint of the lower board.

Second edition, after the first of 1757.
Contemporary full calf binding. Smooth spine, decorated. Red morocco title label, and black morocco volume label. Two small tears with lacks on the upper cover of volume I. Handsome copy.
Essay on political events in France from 1658 to 1739. Considering the bitter criticisms against Louis XIV whose policy Castel judged despotic, Castel's family preferred posthumous publication. The work is much more than a political essay, the events being only a pretext for the author to establish his economic and political theories specific to the Enlightenment. The essence of the author's thought being the happiness of peoples. He is the author of the famous "Projet pour une paix perpetuelle en Europe" premises of the future Europe (EEC). To situate the spirit of the character, let us recall that he was excluded from the French Academy for having criticized the way ministers were appointed by the king, when they should have been elected by a council.