Journal du Voyage de Michel de Montaigne en Italie par la Suisse & l'Allemagne, en 1580 & 1581
Paris: Le Jay, 1774. First printing. Hardcover. Quarto (11 x 8.75 inches; 280 x 221 mm), contemporary calf, gilt spine, good to very good with light wear to binding, outer front joint cracked but boards still firmly attached, light rubbing, soil and stains to boards, contents fresh and clean, with lovely copperplate frontispiece of Montaigne engraved by Augustin de Saint-Aubin, half title, liv, 416 pp, complete. After the publication of the Essays in 1580, Montaigne stayed six months in Rome. The text of his travel journal was drawn up and annotated by Meusnier de Querlon from the unpublished manuscript, discovered by Abbot Prunis in the papers found in Montaigne's residence. Dedicated to Buffon, the work was published in three editions during the year 1774, one in quarto format and two in 12mo format. Spine label states Vol. IV; this was undoubtedly bound alongside a quarto edition of Montaigne's essays in three volumes, but this was issued on its own and not as part of a set. Desan, 111; Brunet, III, 1843. The quarto edition has never auctioned for less than $1000 in recent years and has sold for as much as 3800 Euros (in 2020). Good. Item #H19754
Price: $850.00