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All auctions / Books, Maps & Manuscripts / Michel de Montaigne / Traducido por Charles Cotton - Montaigne's Essays - 1738


DESCRIPTION: I present at auction an extraordinary lot of two volumes (Volumes 1 and 3) of the renowned Essays by Michel de Montaigne, from 1738, translated into English by poet Charles Cotton. Montaigne invented the essay form and revolutionized modern thought with his immortal skeptical motto: "Que sçay-je?" (What do I know?). Having in your hands this famous eighteenth-century translation is to possess a living piece of the history of Western philosophy. IMPRESSIVE FRONTISPIECE ENGRAVING: DETAIL AND EXCEPTIONAL FINENESS + Exquisite Full-Page Portrait: Volume 1 opens with a monumental copper-engraved portrait of Montaigne. The engraving stands out for its dazzling precision in the weave of the lines: from the texture of the clothing and the crossed sash, to the perfect folds of the ruff and the human and ironic expressiveness of his face. + The Balance Emblem: Beneath the portrait is his famous motto printed within the balanced scale ("Que Scay-je"), engraved with surgical fineness. + Rarity of Preservation: Period engravings are often trimmed or lost with rebinding. Finding this frontispiece intact, with its full margins, without restorations and in such a clean and deeply impressed state, is truly extraordinary. NOBLE HERALDIC EXLIBRIS: WILLIAM TREW + Period Armorial Engraving: The front inner cover houses a magnificent copper-engraved exlibris belonging to William Trew. + Fine Heraldic Detail: It shows a coat of arms topped by a stylized rose, a chevron with flowers and a field of ermine. An English aristocratic provenance mark that adds invaluable historical value and pedigree to these volumes. The work is richly decorated inside with friezes, wood-engraved borders of urban landscapes, allegories, and beautiful historiated initials (such as the large 'T' flanked by vegetal motifs at the start of Chapter I). YEAR OF PUBLICATION: London (England, United Kingdom) 1738 LANGUAGE: English SIZE AND PAGE COUNT: Dimensions: 17 x 11 cm. Pagination: VOLUME I: [4] + Frontispiece + Title + [18] + 394 + [30] pp. VOLUME III: [4] + Title + IV + 402 + [32] pp. PRESERVES THE PORTRAIT OF MONTAIGNE CONDITION: Original full-leather binding, in good condition, with some rubbing as shown in the photos. Spine with five raised bands decorated with gold lines and red morocco label. The interior is in good condition, with occasional watermarks at the end of Volume III, as shown in the photos. RARE AND CROWDED ENGLISH EDITION OF MONTAIGNE. DO NOT MISS IT. SHIPPING POLICY: Shipping costs are grouped to save you money. Economical shipping with major carriers: Shipping to Spain --> via: CTT Express 24h or CORREOS Shipping to Europe --> via: UPS Express 48-72h / FedEx Express 48-72h (Some countries may have longer transit times) Shipping to the United States --> via: UPS Express 48h / FedEx Express 48h (We have been informed by our customers that these companies are less strict or do not apply the new 15% import tax on products) Shipping to China --> via: UPS Express 24h Shipping to the Rest of the World --> via: UPS Express 48h / FedEx Express 48h *Books will be carefully packed so they travel securely to their new home.
Estimate:£296.88
To the auctionView all items fromCatawikiorBooks, Maps & Manuscripts
Estimate:
£296.88
REBOUX (Paul). — Bamboulina. Paris, Éditions Lapina, collect - Lot 243
10/04/2026

£4.24
Est: £17

OCT 17 | 10:00 PM

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£17,044.7