Jean de LA BRUYÈRE

New edition, and first deluxe edition in quarto format on large Dutch paper. A handsome portrait of La Bruyère engraved by Cathelin, as frontispiece. A title vignette by Gravelot and two fine headpieces by the same. Title page in red and black.
Full contemporary glazed lavallière calf binding. Smooth spine decorated. Brown morocco title label. Upper joint split at head and tail with loss of leather. A few narrow cracks along the upper joint. Surface wear at bottom of upper board, 2 small ones at bottom of lower board. Both upper corners discretely restored. Copy overall quite fresh, printed on fine paper, despite some scattered foxing.
Fine and carefully produced edition reproducing the Costes edition of 1739 for the text and notes, as well as the key to the Characters. The Discourse to the French Academy forms the final text.

Fourth edition, partly first edition as it was significantly expanded. The first three, similar to each other, appeared during 1688. The fourth edition is therefore considered the second first edition. It appeared simultaneously at the Parisian publisher Etienne Michallet, who had indeed shared his privilege with Amaulry since the first editions. Title page in red and black.
Half vellum 19th-century binding with corners. Spine with raised bands decorated with roulettes. Brown shagreen title label. Upper joint split at tail for 8 cm. Small split in vellum at lower joint at head. Rubbing.
This fourth edition is the first to have been completed, it indeed contains 764 remarks against 420 in the first and those that followed.
The writing of the Caractères begins in 1670, but it is only after 17 years of work that La Bruyère decides to publish the Caractères, he is however so unsure of success that he gives precedence to his translation of Theophrastus's Characters in the first editions and it will be necessary to wait for the fifth for the work of the Caractères to assert itself before that of Theophrastus, and for La Bruyère to finally sign the edition with his name.

First edition, rare.
Contemporary full brown sheep binding, spine with raised bands decorated with gilt fleurons. Headcaps eliminated, joints of first cover lightly rubbed. Rear endpaper split, very light worming to a few leaves, without loss.
All posthumous books by La Bruyère (died in 1696) were completed by his editor Louis Ellies Dupin, who wrote two dialogues for this work. La Bruyère takes part in this book in the theological quarrel between Bossuet and Fénelon, defender of quietism. The author criticizes quietism in an ironic tone modeled on Pascal's provincial letters.
First edition of a work by the famous author of the Caractères.

Sixth edition with some parts in first edition. It contains 54 new remarks compared to previous editions.

Contemporary full brown sheep binding. Decorated spine with raised bands. Red morocco title label. Rubbing. The last endpaper has been pasted down over the privilege. 3 wormholes on the spine.

First edition. Tchemerzine VI, 331.
Contemporary full brown sheep binding. Decorated spine with raised bands. Worn headcaps. Overall rubbing. Large brown stain on upper cover. 3 corners slightly bumped. Pp. 158 to 168 foxed.
All posthumous works by La Bruyère (died in 1696) were completed by his editor Louis Ellies Dupin, who wrote two dialogues for this work. La Bruyère takes part in this book in the theological quarrel between Bossuet and Fénelon, defender of quietism. The author criticizes quietism in an ironic tone modeled on Pascal's Provincial Letters.

Edition illustrated with 28 original color lithographs by Lucien Boucher, one of 1369 numbered copies on Lana vellum.
Handsome copy complete with its chemises (one with a fragile and cracked joint) and slipcases.