“AN AUTHORITY STILL INVOKED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CIVILIZED WORLD”

DOMAT, Jean. Les Loix Civiles Dans Leur Ordre Naturel; Le Droit Public, et Legum Delectus… Paris: Delalain, 1777. Two volumes. Folio, contemporary full mottled calf, gilttooled spines, red and green leather labels. $1200.

Later French edition of this legal classic by “the greatest French jurist of the 17th century,” “the first successful attempt to reduce to order the Civil Law of France”—two impressive folio volumes in handsome contemporary French mottled calf-gilt.

Domat's work, "considering the age and the circumstances in which it was written, is a truly wonderful performance. His method is excellent, and his matter clear, exact and comprehensive. [It is] the first successful attempt to reduce to order the Civil Law of France… an authority still invoked throughout the whole civilized world" (Marvin, 271). "Domat was the greatest French jurist of the 17th century. This work is perhaps the most important work ever produced in France (and is regarded) as containing the antecedents of the Code of Napoleon of 1804" (NYU, 232). First published in 1689. Text in French. Evidence of bookplate.

Two signatures excised from first title page, not affecting letterpress. Interiors bright, bindings very good with slight wear at head of Volume I. An impressive set in full contemporary mottled calf-gilt.