Les Essais. Edition nouvelle prise sur l’éxemplaire trouvé après le deceds de l’autheur, reveu augmenté d’un tiers oultre les précédentes impressions. Enrichi de deux tables curieusement exactes et élabourées.

Abel l’Angelier, Paris, 1602

The 4th edition of the ‘Essais’ with corrections by Marie de Gournay le Jars, Montaigne’s intellectual protégé. It is based on the fourth and last edition published by Montaigne himself in 1588.

Description: Bound in contemporary mottled calf, spine with 5 raised bands, elaborate gilt decoration in compartments and gilt-lettered morocco label; marbled endpapers. Octavo: 19 × 13 cm; pp.: [8], 1165, [77]. With engraved title page, small woodcut initials, index at end. Red-dyed edges.

Provenance: Pierre Doct. Med. (gilt lettered stamp to front board); illegible ownership inscription on title.

Ref.: Brunet iii/1835; Graesse iv/579; Sayce/Maskell 10

Condition: Binding a bit scuffed and bruised at corners, small chips to board edges, small wormholes to spine. Textblock with light age toning, occasional spotting, faint dampstaining to lower title and margins of a few pages, closed tear at lower gutter of title page, paper flaws to pp. 151 and 833 with minor loss to lettering, some worming to upper margin of final 20 leaves.