Lettres sur l'Italie

First edition.
Bound in half speckled brown sheep with flamed yellow paper boards, a skillful pastiche from the late 19th century. Smooth spine decorated with thick and thin fillets. Black shagreen title and volume labels. Minor traces of rubbing. Restoration to the verso of the title page of volume 2, filling a thin tear in the margin over 3 cm. P. 149, lack to margin. Fine copy, very fresh.
President de Brosses made his journey to Italy in the years 1739 and 1740, then aged 30, some letters date from this period and were indeed sent from Italy, but most were written after the journey. These letters are of interest both for the fine arts and customs, the author shows himself to be a refined and light observer and gives us the most charming portrait of Italy ever written, like a delightful stroll full of anecdotes and witty remarks, he speaks particularly of music, of his visit to Vivaldi and to the young girls of L'hôpital de la piété (Ospedale de la Pieta). Although other editions followed this first one in the 19th century, claiming to be more correct, this first edition is the most faithful to the manuscripts, even though it was produced with a certain carelessness. It was Antoine Sérieys, archivist, who produced this edition with rather piquant notes since they reflect a post-revolutionary spirit.