Lettres sur les Anglois et les François. Et sur les voiages.
[n.p., Zurich? 1725. First edition of an uncommon title (OCLC lists eight copies). A Cologne edition also appeared in 1725; it extended to 312 pages only. Title-page in black and red. Author’s name in ink on title-page in an early hand, last gathering has small marginal waterstain at top corner. A very good, clean copy. Contemporary calf, rebacked to style, gilt spine. [12], [1, errata], [1], 543 pp. [12], [1, errata], [1], 543 pp. Item #13387
This is thought to be the first book that analyzed the English character for a French and Swiss audience. Muralt’s (1665-1749) observations were hailed by Voltaire as very inciteful; a note to one of the catalogue entries in OCLC calls this a “…pioneer work in shifting Swiss and German interests from French classicism to English achievements and attitudes.” "His travels in France and England took place in 1694-95. While in England he picked up some deistic views which on his return to Bern caused his banishment. He then began destroying the letters he had written recording his impressions of France and England, but fortunately most of them were rescued and published. he was keenly interested in the stage, but in dramatic matters he was a disciple of Boileau" (Cox III, 88).
Barbier II,1302. Cioranescu 47696. Cox III, 8.
Price: $750.00