Considérations sur les mœurs de ce siècle.

A new duodecimo edition of the most celebrated work by the writer and historian Charles Pinot Duclos, published in the same year as the first edition. According to the Dictionnaire des ouvrages anonymes et pseudonymes of 1822, "the edition without place of publication, 1751, 12mo, in large type"—the present edition—"should be preferred to that bearing Prault's name, 1751, which contains a dedicatory epistle to the King." (our own translation)

Fine contemporary binding in polished tan calf, spine with five raised bands, highlighted with a gilt roll, decorated with five compartments richly gilt with mascles and ermines, repeated on the boards within a blind fillet border, brown morocco lettering-piece, gilt fillet on boards edges, edges stained red, turn-ins tooled in gilt palmette pattern, oak-leaf patterned pastedowns and endpapers. A copy stamped with the heraldic charges (ermines and mascles) of the Rohan family, or more precisely of the Rohan-Guémené, Rohan-Rochefort, or Rohan-Soubise branches.

Joints slightly split for 2.2 cm and 0.5 cm on upper boards, light rubbing to board edges and corners, three library labels affixed to upper pastedown and verso of front free endpaper. Minor marginal tears to p. 281 and pp. 361-366, author's name annotated in black ink on title page: "Par Mr. Duclos de l'Acad. franç."

Montesquieu’s letter to Duclos on the publication of the Considérations sur les mœurs de ce siècle (Paris, March 4, 1751):

“I have read only half of your work, my dear Duclos, and you have much wit and say many fine things. It will be said that La Bruyère and you understood your century well; that you are more of a philosopher than he, and that your century is more philosophical than his. Be that as it may, you are a pleasure to read, and you make one think. Allow me to embrace you in congratulations.” (our own translation)

On its first appearance, Antoine-Alexandre Barbier and Langlumé record that all of Paris hurried to read the Considérations, which was “the subject of general conversation” for several days. Duclos’s essay was admired for its freedom of tone and subtle intelligence, exemplified by his remark in Chapter XI:

“It seems to me that men do not love what they are obliged to admire.” (our own translation)

A distinguished copy, in a contemporary binding stamped with the Rohan heraldic charges, of the principal work of Charles Duclos, one of the foremost moralists of the eighteenth century. His prose, alongside that of Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues, Sébastien-Roch Nicolas de Chamfort, and Antoine de Rivarol, rivalled in style and intellectual distinction that of the great moralists of the previous century.