Montesquieu; John Davidson [translator] — Persian Letters

London, Gibbings & Company, Limited, 1899. Cloth. A smart three volume set of this literary work from French judge and man of letters Montesquieu. Complete in three volumes. Volume one is illustrated with a portrait frontispiece and one plate. Volume two is illustrated with a portrait frontispiece and three plates. Volume three is illustrated with a portrait frontispiece and two plates. Collated complete. A story recounting the experiences of two fictional Persian noblemen, Usbek and Rica, who spend several years in France under Louis XIV and the Regency. Beginning in 1711, when Usbek leaves his seraglio in Isfahan to make the long journey to France, accompanied by his young friend Rica. During the trip and their long stay in Paris until 1720, they comment, in letters exchanged with friends and mullahs, on numerous aspects of Western, Christian society, particularly French politics and manners. Written by Charles Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brede et de Montesquieu, generally referred to as simply Montesquieu, a French judge, man of letters, historian, and political philosopher. Translated by John Davidson, a British scholar. Illustrated by Charles-Edouard de Beaumont, a French painter, watercolourist, draughtsman, illustrator and lithographer. In the original full cloth binding. Externally, smart with light rubbing and minor bumping to the extremities. The odd small mark to the cloth. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright with the odd small spot. Light spotting to the first and last few pages with light age toning to the endpapers. A contemporary ink inscription to the front endpaper. Very Good . Ill.: Ed. De Beaumont. Very Good .