Economics & Politics

Tenth edition statement, after the original published in 1700. It is illustrated with 38 numbered plates including two folding ones, 17 for the first volume and 21 for the second, and 35 woodcut figures in the text.

Contemporary full marbled blonde sheep binding. Spine with raised bands decorated with fillets. Red morocco title label and black morocco volume label (lacking the volume label for tome I, though the gilt lettering remains visible). Rubbed throughout. Some plates are cut shorter. Fresh throughout. Lacking at head of tome I. Tear to lower joint at foot of tome I. 4 corners bumped. Cuts to boards. 

Partly first edition, gathering the most famous speeches by Victor Hugo, including some of his most memorable addresses delivered at the tribune of the Legislative Assembly—most notably the speech on constitutional revision and the powerful plea he gave at the trial of his son, on 11 June 1851, before the Cour d'assises of the Seine, in defense of the inviolability of human life. Spurious mention of “eighth edition.”
Complete with the rare portrait of the author by Masson printed on China paper, as frontispiece.
Scattered occasional foxing.
Precious inscribed copy signed by Victor Hugo to Juliette Drouet : « à mon pauvre doux ange aimé. V. »
A treasured copy belonging to Victor Hugo’s muse and mistress. This moving and remorseful dedication is Hugo’s response to the tragedy Juliette endured that same year, having just discovered he had been unfaithful for seven years with Léonie Biard. In June 1851, Biard sent Juliette the letters Victor had written to her. In July, Hugo swore eternal fidelity to Juliette, and in August inscribed this plea for a more compassionate justice to her.
In the autumn, Juliette demanded that Hugo meet Madame Biard to formally end the affair—a meeting she choreographed in every detail, and to which Hugo complied.
Provenance: libraries of Pierre Duché (1972, no. 75) and Philippe Zoummeroff (2001, no. 71).