FIRST EDITION OF STEPHEN’S LECTURES ON THE HISTORY OF FRANCE, 1851

STEPHEN, James. Lectures on the History of France. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1851. Two volumes. Octavo, contemporary full diced olive calf, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, red and brown morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers and edges. $525.

First edition of this collection of Sir James Stephen’s lectures on the history of France, handsomely bound in contemporary full diced calf.

After spending the early part of his life as a colonial undersecretary, Stephen moved on to the Regius professorship of modern history at Cambridge following the death of Professor William Smyth. “He delivered a course of lectures upon the history of France during the summers of 1850 and 1851, which were published in [1851], and were warmly praised by De Tocqueville and other competent persons” (DNB). CBEL III:907. A few marginal pencil markings.

Text generally fine, mild toning to spine and extremities of handsome calf-gilt bindings.