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66 GODWIN, William. An Enquiry concerning Political Justice, and its influence on General Virtue and Happiness. London: G. G. J. and J. Robinson, 1793 Founding philosophical anarchism First edition of one of the most radical and far-reaching books of the years of revolution at the end of the 18th century, widely seen as the foundation of philosophical anarchism. Published just weeks after the execution of Louis XVI, Godwin’s tract attacks all restraints on the exercise of individual judgement – in the belief that human opinions will become progressively more enlightened with the growth of knowledge. Among Godwin’s targets were established religion and marriage, and he believed that government itself would ultimately become redundant. As a text Political Justice had one hugely influential if contrary result: it directly inspired Malthus to formulate his Essay on Population . Its contemporary influence was profound and lasting, and the book still speaks today for its eloquent defence of human liberty. Godwin, for all his lack of worldly success, was the epicentre of English radicalism. He subsequently married Mary Wollstonecraft; inspired and infuriated Percy Bysshe Shelley, who bankrolled him before eloping with his daughter Mary, future author of Frankenstein ; and published, among many others, Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare and works illustrated by William Blake. 2 volumes, quarto (279 × 219 mm). Recent sprinkled calf, spines ruled gilt, red and green morocco labels, sprinkled edges. Complete with the half-titles and the final errata leaf. Embossed library blindstamps to titles, shelf mark in ink to versos. Covers a little scuffed, two leaves with closed tears repaired with archival tape, another with a short marginal tear; a good, clean copy. ¶ Hazlitt, The Free Man’s Library , p. 77; Printing and the Mind of Man 243; Rothschild 1016. £6,000 [148103]
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repaired in inner margin, stitching of top gathering a little loose, map guarded with light repairs along folds. Still a very good copy of this fragile volume. ¶ Howes G105; New Palgrave II, 51. £2,000 [136978] 65 GEZ, Avocat au Parlement de Toulouse. Discours adressé (le 9 Mars 1873 [ sic ]) à une societé d’avocats au parlement de Toulouse, sur son projet d’une conférence de charité. [No place: no printer,] 1783 Pro bono work First and apparently only edition of this speech promoting the establishment in Toulouse of an order of lawyers offering free legal representation to the poor, a “league of generous defenders of the oppressed and destitute”. When Maître Gez ( c .1700–1792) gave this speech to his peers at the Parlement in Toulouse he had already constituted a group of thirty-two lawyers providing free counsel to the poor. The group was divided into two chambers according to seniority and met monthly. Appealing to the generosity of his peers to form a society of men dedicated to the pursuit of justice and set free from the “domination of greed”, Gez cites as models to follow Montesquieu, Beccaria and Servan, as well as the Bar of the city of Nancy, which had already implemented a similar system. Jean Nicolas Joseph Abraham Gez had a long career at the Bar and was made a member of the Académie des Sciences, Inscriptions et Belles Lettres de Toulouse in 1785. Quarto (238 × 190 mm), 21 pp. Disbound and stab sewn through the original stab holes. Engraved vignette at head of first leaf. Small marginal stain to first leaf, top corner with small stain; a very good copy. £375 [113275]
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Peter Harrington
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