Du Pont

Third edition statement, the first having appeared in 1789. Fine printing.

Contemporary full marbled blonde calf binding. Smooth spine decorated with 3 compartmentalized fleurons. Roulette at head and foot. Black morocco title-label. Triple fillet frame on boards. Edges gilt. Head slightly worn. One corner slightly bumped. Rubbing. A lack along the lower joint at foot. Despite some defects, a high-quality binding.

A rare and sought-after edition of the French Constitution, published the same year as the first edition, printed by Pierre-Samuel du Pont de Nemours, deputy to the National Assembly, who was also a journalist, philosopher, economist, and Franco-American diplomat. He worked as a bookseller-printer from 1791 to 1800 alongside the chemist Antoine de Lavoisier, then with his son Eleuthère-Irénée, founder of the world's oldest chemical company, E.I. du Pont de Nemours.

Contemporary full calf, smooth spines divided by gilt fillets, gilt floral decoration in compartments, red morocco label, boards framed with a double gilt fillet, board edges decorated with a thicker gilt fillet, gilt edges, blue paper endpapers.

Spine rubbed, headcaps missing, some browning to upper portion of front board, upper joint of rear board split for 4.8 cm, splitting starting at foot of rear board, corners bumped.

Inside this copy: a few very minor spots of foxing affecting first and last leaves, stain to verso of lower pastedown.