Lottin, Antoine-Prosper (1733-1812)

Each of the disbound parts is in its original edition.

With: "Supplément au Précis justificatif de la société commerciale de la nouvelle Compagnie des Indes. Pour servir de réponse aux inculpations contenues dans le rapport fait à la Convention nationale, le 3 août 1793", printed in Paris by Lottin, also in 1793 (4to, 14 pp.), likewise disbound, printed in two columns, one for the "inculpations" and the other for the "réponses", on bluish paper.

These texts constitute refutations of the allegations levelled against the Compagnie des Indes, founded in France by Colbert in 1664 and whose privilege had been abolished on 3 April 1790.

During the Terror, the Compagnie des Indes was suspected of counter-revolutionary activities, and on 26 July 1793 the Convention ordered its buildings to be sealed.

A second decree of 11 October 1793 abolished the Compagnie des Indes and requisitioned its goods and ships. 

Second edition, after the first published in 1775.
Full marbled brown sheep bindings. Smooth spines decorated. Red morocco title and volume labels. Set rubbed. 2 corners slightly bumped. Good copy.
The first edition of these letters met with great success and gave rise to several piracies. The authenticity of these letters was contested from their publication in 1775, which the translator defends against in the preface of this second edition, attesting to their provenance and railing against the false editions. It is however a literary hoax whose author is the Marquis de Caraccioli. The letters address very varied subjects, Italy, piety, natural sciences, solitude, etc.
Manuscript ownership inscription Brigueil.

First French edition, translated from English by Jacques Rebauld de la Chapelle (Barbier).
Contemporary full marbled calf binding. Decorated spine with raised bands. Black morocco title label. Restored headcaps. A thin crack to the lower joint at the head.
Stanyan resided in Switzerland from 1705 to 1714. Haller appreciated the unbiased exposition without prejudice or value judgments from its author, whose reading he recommends. It was seeing the paucity of works on Switzerland that prompted the author to take the trouble to write his own.