An Essay on Crimes and Punishments, Translated from the Italian; with a Commentary, Attributed to Mons. de Voltaire, Translated from the French
London: Printed for J. Almon, 1767.
First English-language edition of Cesare Bonesana di Beccaria's treatise on criminal justice reform, with an added commentary by Voltaire. xii, 179, lxxix pp. Bound in full contemporary mottled calf, laced in boards. Morocco title label, gilt tooling to spine and board edges, all edges speckled red. Near Fine with light wear to covers, boards slightly splayed, joints worn but sound. Light toning and scattered foxing throughout, more pronounced in first and last few pages. Discoloration from binder's glue to endpapers, author's name penciled to front pastedown, math equation penciled to back pastedown. A beautiful copy of the influential Enlightenment classic from the collection of scholar and bibliophile Arnold Meadowcroft Muirhead, with his bookplate on the front pastedown. Rare. Item #140947325
Price: $5,800