VENDU
8 volumes, 8vo (196 x 123 mm) of XXIV, 365 pp. 1 large engraved folding map for volume I; 2 nn.ll., IV, 349pp. for volume II; 2 nn.ll., IV, 384 pp. for volume III; 2 nn.ll., III, 349 pp. 1 large engraved folding map for volume IV; 2 nn.ll., IV, 400 pp. for volume V; 2 nn.ll., III, 336 pp. 1 folding typographical table for volume VI; 2 nn.ll., IV, 366 pp. 1 folding engraved map for volume VII; 3 nn.ll., 244 pp., 8 folding typographical tables for volume VIII. Contemporary half-sheep, flat spine gilt, blue edges.
1 in stock
Sabin, 39056 ; Howes, L-106.
First edition.
A humanist open to agricultural and industrial progress, François Alexandre Frédéric, Duc de La Rochefoucauld founded a model farm and schools in Liancourt. A member of the Académie des Sciences and the Société d’Agriculture de Paris, he helped found the Ecole Nationale des Arts et Métiers. He emigrated during the Revolution, first to England and then to the United States for three years. He travelled around the country studying its economic resources, its constitution, the different classes of American society and the customs of its inhabitants.
The account of his journey, written in a precise and simple style, is peppered with observations that are important for our knowledge of the United States at the end of the 18th century. The three engraved maps show the Provinces septentrionales, the Provinces méridionales, and L’Amérique septentrionale divided into its 17 provinces. The 9 folding tables (8 in the last volume) give details of the legislature, senate, and other institutions of American democracy.
A good copy, complete with its 3 maps which are often missing.
Monday to Saturday
10am – 1pm and 2:30pm – 7pm
(6pm Monday and Saturday)
© 2023 All rights reserved.