De la démocratie en Amérique.

Paris: Charles Gosselin,, 1835-40. One of the most important texts in political literature" (PMM) First edition of the author's magnum opus, a cornerstone of political science and "one of the most significant works ever written on American political and civil life" (Books that Made Europe). Democracy in America arose out of the 1831-2 tour that de Tocqueville undertook to examine the penitentiary system on behalf of the French government. It was printed in two parts: the first (volumes one and two) appeared in Paris in 1835, in a run of 500 copies, and the second (volumes three and four) was printed in 1840. As a result "contemporary copies with the four copies uniformly bound are uncommon" (Books that Made Europe). It ran to thirteen editions by 1850 and each of its parts was translated into English in the same year it was first published. Democracy in America was recognized early not only as a remarkably insightful study of the origins and nature of American society and consequently her unique institutions, but also as a founding document of a new form of social and political science. It was justly praised by John Stuart Mill in the London Review in such terms as to guarantee its immediate and continued success: "It has at once taken its rank among the most remarkable productions of our time; and is a book with which, both for its facts and its speculations, all who would understand, or who are called upon to exercise influence over their age, are bound to be familiar. It will contribute to give to the political speculations of our time a new character". Mill's farsightedness in terms of de Tocqueville's influence was confirmed in a review by Robert P. George, American legal scholar and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University, of an updated translation: "Democracy in America will continue to be read with profit as long as the United States survives as a republic and, indeed, as long as democracy endures". Four volumes, octavo (195 x 125 mm). Recent quarter calf and marbled boards to style, spines ruled and decorated in gilt and blind, black morocco labels. Hand-coloured lithographic folding map of the United States at rear of second volume, publisher's device on title pages. Paper repair to chip at foot of terminal leaf in vol. III and to 10 cm closed tear in inner margin of folding map. A very clean set, attractively bound in period style. Books that Made Europe, p. 206; En Français dans le texte 253; Goldsmiths' 28902 (vols 1 & 2 only); Howes T278; Printing and the Mind of Man 358 note ("one of the most important texts in political literature"); Sabin 96060/1. Not in Einaudi (which has only the 15th edition) or Kress. Aurelian Craiutu, "Tocqueville's Paradoxical Moderation", The Review of Politics, vol. 67, no. 4, 2005, pp. 599-629; Robert P. George, "A Liberal with Depth", Times Literary Supplement, 15 June 2001; Robert A. Nisbet, The Sociological Tradition, 1993.