Details
PASCAL, Blaise (1623-62). Pensées ... sur la religion et sur quelques autres suiets, Paris: Guillaume Desprez, 1670. 12° (135 x 75mm). Woodcut floral device on title. (Title creased, last 2 lines of text in 2nd and 3rd quires affected by worming and subsequent laminated repairs, persistent waterstaining.) Late 19th-century marbled sheep (rubbed). Provenance: 'DS' (monogram penned on title and verso of final leaf) -- Lord Esher (bookplate, gift inscription dated 23 March 1921 to:) -- Oliver Brett (bookplate).
Piracy of the first edition, with 'achevé d'imprimer pour la premiere fois, le 2. Janvier 1670' at foot of the privilege on A4r; A4v without errata. The collation agrees with that given by Tchemerzine for the first edition, although the title is clearly a variant. The greatness of Les Pensées was immediately recognised when it was first published. Its analysis of human character, many striking sayings, and combination of powerful and persuasive reasoning with passionate devotion, make it remarkable and unique. Brunet IV, 398; PMM 152; Tchemerzine IX, p. 72.
Piracy of the first edition, with 'achevé d'imprimer pour la premiere fois, le 2. Janvier 1670' at foot of the privilege on A4r; A4v without errata. The collation agrees with that given by Tchemerzine for the first edition, although the title is clearly a variant. The greatness of Les Pensées was immediately recognised when it was first published. Its analysis of human character, many striking sayings, and combination of powerful and persuasive reasoning with passionate devotion, make it remarkable and unique. Brunet IV, 398; PMM 152; Tchemerzine IX, p. 72.
Special notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium