Oeuvres politiques [...] contenant la République d'Océana, les Aphorismes, et les autres traités du même auteur; précédées de l'histoire de sa vie, écrite par Jean Toland. Ouvrage traduit de l'anglois.

3 vol., 8vo: [4]-xvi-268-iii, [4]-275-[1 bl.]-iii, [4]-299-[1 bl.]-iii pp. (sl. foxing, quire N of vol. II sl. age-toned, sl. marg. damp stain in 2nd part of vol. III).

Contemp. spr. sheep, gilt orn. flat spines, red edges, 19th-c. orn. blue paper pastedowns and flyleaves (rebacked, some sm. def.).

Rare first French edition by the historian and lawyer Pierre-François Henry (1759-1833) of the political works of the philosopher and theorist of classical republicanism J. Harrington (1611-1677). Included his utopian treatise "The Commonwealth of Oceana" in which he exposes an ideal constitution conceived to facilitate the development of the English republic established after the execution of Charles I in 1649. The first attempt to publish the "Oceana" was censored by Cromwell, but it was eventually published with a dedication addressed to him in 1656.
Ref. Brunet III:49. - BnF.
Prov. [Count van Zuylen van Nyevelt].