Letters to His Son By the Earl of Chesterfield: On the Fine Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman, 2 Volume Set (Beau Brummel ed)
New York: Dingwall-Rock, 1925. Limited Edition. Octavo. Item #032637
Limited to 1999 sets. The present set is #1315. In two volumes. 408 and 435 pp. This is the major set on a gentleman's standard of etiquette. Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, (1694-1773) wrote one of the most important classics of the 18th Century that was intended to prepare his son for his role in international society whether as a diplomat or a man of business. Published originally after his death, it became the classic standard particularly for the upper class gentleman. It has been noted all the major libraries in early America in 1800 had Gibbon, Voltaire and of course Chesterfield. He has been criticized for his obvious disregard of woman having any role in society. A very nice set bound in black cloth pictorial gilt spines, top edges gilt, in the scarce pictorial dust jackets with pieces torn away from spine of volume one, vol. 2 has a chip to head of spine, spines are toned and the slipcase which has a few splits. Volumes mostly unopened.
Price: $275.00