MONTESQUIEU. - Lot 90

MONTESQUIEU. Œuvres de Montesquieu, ses éloges par d'Alembert et M. Villemain, les notes d'Helvétius, de Condorcet et de Voltaire ; suivies du commentaire sur L'Esprit des lois, par M. le comte Destutt de Tracy. Paris: Dalibon, 1822. - 8 volumes in-8, lemon half-maroquin, gilded numeral in the center of the front cover, spine ribbed and decorated with gilded and mosaic motifs, untrimmed (Dauphin). Fine edition of Montesquieu's works ONE OF THE RARE EXAMPLES ON VELIN PAPER, largely uncut, IN SUPERB EARLY BOOKBINDING SIGNED BY PIERRE DAUPHIN, a bookbinder from Lyon who practiced during the first third of the 19th century. Missing are the facsimile of Montesquieu's autograph and his portrait engraved by Müller after Deveria. They have been removed and replaced by a portrait of the author engraved by Pierre-Alexandre Tardieu after Antoine-Denis Chaudet (1763-1810) on chine collé, and a suite of eleven plates in avant la lettre condition on chine collé. Some foxing and rare traces of wetness. Provenance: JLR gilt on boards. - Dr. E. F. with printed label glued to the upper corner of the inside back covers.