MONTESQUIEU, Charles de Secondat, Baron de. The Spirit of Laws. Translated from the French of M. De Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, by Mr Nugent. The second edition corrected and considerably improved. 2 vols. Printed for J. Nourse. 1752
xl, [20], 451, [1]p ad.; [2], xvi, 483, [1]ad., [46] index, [4]pp ads. 8vo. A few 19th century marginal notes, some browning & foxing throughout, occasional minor waterstaining to lower margins. Expertly rebound in quarter sprinkled calf, gilt bands, red morocco labels, marbled boards, vellum tips, fresh contemporary e.ps & pastedowns. Ownership signature of Frederick Thornhill 1817 on each titlepage, which also bear the oval printed stamp of the Guildhall Library, and their withdrawn stamp.
¶ESTC N23468. Thomas Nugent's translation of the 1748 French edition printed in Geneva, was first published in 1750, and met with great approval from the author. In a letter dated October 18th, 1750, he wrote, "I cannot help myself, Sir, in giving you my thanks. I gave them to you already, because you translated for me. I give them to you now because you translated so well. Your translation has no other fault than that of the original; and I must remain indebted to you for disguising them so well".
Stock #54081
£500
46, Great Russell Street - (opp. British Museum) - Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3PA
