A Commentary And Review of Montesquieu’s Spirit of Laws. Prepared for Press From the Original Manuscript, in the Hands of the Publisher.
Philadelphia: Printed by William Duane, 1811.
Price: $750.00
About the item
First edition, translated and revised by Thomas Jefferson. viii, 292pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Contemporary calf, rebacked with original spine laid down. Copley Library bookplate. Contemporary ownership inscription on title page. Light tanning and foxing. Very good. In an elaborate green half morocco slipcase with tan onlay. Cohen 7817; Sabin 96413; Shaw & Shoemaker 22689; Sowerby 2327.
Item #251423
This is the first edition, and an edition in French did not appear until 1817. In his preface the author states that he wrote this work, in which he extols the superiority of the republican constitution of America over that of England, during his residence in America and, more important, that he wrote it for Americans, albeit in his native language for lack of sufficient skill in English. It also contains considerable discussion of economic policy.
"Using the French manuscript that he received from the author in 1809, Jefferson undertook to see into print an English edition of Destutt de Tracy’s commentary on Montesquieu’s Esprit des Lois. He recruited Philadelphia printer and journalist William Duane for the task with the letter and sample translations printed below. Duane engaged his own translator, even for the portions Jefferson had already translated, and made further revisions himself before sending the work in batches to Jefferson for his review. Jefferson spent part of the last months of 1810 composing a preface and reviewing the draft translation" (The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Retirement Series, vol. 3, 12 August 1810 to 17 June 1811). Jefferson would promote the sale of the book, including having it added to the curriculum of the University of Virginia, as a fundamental work on the science of government.
[With:] Joyce Appleby. "What is Still American in the Political Philosophy of Thomas Jefferson". An offprint from the William and Mary Quarterly, regarding his translation of de Tracy.
