Susanne Schulz-Falster Catalogue Ten - Schulz-Falster Rare Books

266 [ROUSSEAU.] TARDIANI, Scipione. Esame Analitico del
Contratto Sociale di G. G. Rousseau. Primo Volume [Secondo
Volume], Lucca, TipograWa Benedini e Rocchi, 1819. £480
Two volumes, 8vo, pp. xxxii, 256, [1] errata; 413, [1] blank, [1] errata;
some light foxing, to Wrst and last signatures; contemporary sheepbacked
marbled boards, gilt-lettered spine labels and contrasting
numbering pieces.
First and only edition, rare, of this close critique of Rousseau’s Social Contract.
Tardiani comments on the fact how contemporary philosophers and
politicians appear to accept Rousseau’s basic tenets of the social contract
without questioning the underlying principles, and proposes to give a close
analysis of all his statements and demands.
Surprisingly uncommon, RLIN and OCLC list just the Harvard copy.
267 RUSKIN, John. The Political Economy of Art: Being the
Substance (with Additions) of Two Lectures. Delivered at
Manchester, July 10th and 13th, 1857. London: Smith, Elder and
Co., 65, Cornhill. 1857. £90
8vo, pp. viii, 248, ownership inscription erased from upper outer
corner of title page, paper thinned and small hole; original green
printed publisher’s cloth, slightly creased in places, extremities sunned,
head and tail of spine lightly chipped.
First edition of Ruskin’s fascinating application of the concepts of political
economy on artistic production, based on his lectures in Manchester.
Ruskin analyses the social conditions that produce, or are favourable to the
creation of great works of art. ‘His lectures in Manchester in 1857 on the
political economy of art were followed by a series of works that castigated
Victorian society in general and political economy in particular for sanctioning
commercial immorality’ (New Palgrave).
Wise 71.
Russian Rulers
268 [RUSSIA.] Abrégé historique et chronologique des Règnes
de tous les Souverains de la Russie, enrichi de plusieurs Portraits et
d’un arbre généalogique. Paris, Librairie économique, 1806. £150
8vo, stipple engraved frontispiece, pp. [viii], viii, folding hand-coloured
genealogical table, xii, with 4 page prospectus bound in, 87, [1] errata,
avis au relieur misbound at end; with four further stipple engravings;
uncut and partly unopened in contemporary paste-paper wrappers,
corners a little dog-eared and foot of spine worn.
Uncommon Wrst edition of a brief history of the Russian sovereigns from
862 to 1801, divided into three main historical periods according to the
ruling houses. A brief biography of each of the rulers is given, and a genea-
susanne schulz-falster rare books catalogue ten
logical table shows their relations and descendants. The attractive large
hand-coloured table shows the family tree.
The work was also printed the same year with a Leipzig imprint.
The Importance of Education
269 [RUSSIA – EDUCATION.] Retch o deistvii prosvechtchenia
na sostoynié naradov proiznesennaia ... [Discourse on the inXuence
of education on the nation, a speech delivered in French by the
Rector of the University of Saint-Petersburg Gurov, and translated
by Prof. Nikolï Butyrski.] Saint-Petersburg, Press of the Imperial
Academy of Sciences, 1826. £220
4to, pp. [iv], 28; original pale blue wrappers; a Wne copy.
The author is a ‘loyal liberal’ defending the importance of education for the
well-being of the nation. The liberal Russian tsar Alexander the First had
just died, and there had been an attempt by the Russian militia
(“dekabrists”) to overthrow the monarchy and establish a republic. This
attempt failed, and many members of the upper class believed that education
was to blame for perverting people, and that simple uneducated people
were much easier to control. The author insists that, on the contrary, it was
a lack of education that was to blame.