Montesquieu Anthology Appraisal

Leather-bound French Literary Anthology of La Rochefoucauld, Montesquieu, and Vauvenargues

This item is a compact, antique leather-bound book, likely a 19th-century French literary anthology containing the 'Maximes & Pensées' (Maxims and Thoughts) of renowned French moralists La Rochefoucauld, Montesquieu, and Vauvenargues. The volume is bound in a dark brown, fine-grained morocco or calf leather with a pebble texture. The spine is detailed with four raised bands, creating five compartments characteristic of classic European bookbinding. Each non-titled compartment features a central, gilded floral fleuron, while the second compartment contains the gold-stamped title and names of the authors. The craftsmanship indicates a professional bindery, typical of quality mid-to-late 19th-century editions. Condition-wise, the leather shows significant wear at the joints and extremities, particularly at the head and foot of the spine, which exhibit some fraying and potential loss of leather. There is a visible crack appearing along the front joint, suggesting the hinge may be fragile. Despite the surface wear and rubbing, the gilt stamping remains relatively bright and legible. The overall patina reflects its age and prior handling, placing it as a desirable collectable for those interested in classic French philosophy and fine binding from the 1800s.