August 2020 Catalogue

A u g u s t 2 0 2 0 5 “One Of The Most Influential Books In The Whole History Of Criminology” (PMM) 3. BECCARIA, Cesare Bonsana. An Essay on Crimes and Punishments. London, 1767. Octavo contemporary full brown calf rebacked with original spine laid down. $5200. Click for more info First edition in English of Beccaria’s influential Essay, a work whose impact “can hardly be exaggerated” (PMM), an exceptional copy in contemporary calf. “Beccaria was appalled at what he saw” in his many visits to prisons and courts. This “short but pregnant book was the result… The success of Beccaria’s book was immediate… Voltaire was one of Beccaria’s most enthusiastic followers—he published a commentary on the book—as were Blackstone, Bentham and John Howard” (PMM 209). Small bookplate. Text very fresh with only faint foxing mainly to preliminaries, light expert restoration to calf. A handsome near-fine copy. “No man can be judged a criminal until he be found guilty.”