 | | | | | | Item Specifics - Antiquarian/Collectible Books | | | Binding: | Fine Binding | | Special Attributes: | -- | | | Category: | Literature | | Printing Year: | 1845 | | | Sub-Category: | Diaries & Correspondence | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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The Letters of Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield; Including Numerous Letters Now First Published From the Original Manuscripts. Edited with Notes, by Lord Mahon. In Four Volumes: Vol. I (Letters on Education), Vol. II (Letters on Education; and Character), Vol. III (Letters, Political and Miscellaneous), Vol. IV (Letters, Political and Miscellaneous).
Published by Richard Bentley, London, England, 1845. Originally published in 1774, this Bentley edition is a First Edition Thus. Considered the best edition of the time, these four volumes are attractively bound in 3/4 maroon leather with marbled boards, gilt printing on the spine, 5 raised spine bands, top edges gilt, and marbled endpapers, 9” x 6”, 429, 482, 452, and 506 page respectively.
Each of the four volumes are Beautifully Illustrated with one engraved Frontispiece of Philip Dormer Stanhope, Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, Baron De Montesquieu, and William Pitt.
The Letters include hundreds of letters written by Philip Dormer Stanhope (1694-1773), 4th Earl of Chesterfield, to his illegitimate son, Philip Stanhope (1732-1768), between the years 1737 and 1768. Chesterfield’s early letters to his son – written in French, English, and, occasionally, Latin – largely focus on instructing his son in geography, history, and classical literature. The late letters, written when Philip had a career as a diplomat, deal principally with political matters. But, it was the letters written between 1746 and 1754 that comprise the bulk of his work and include the great majority of Chesterfield’s most famous – and most notorious – letters. These are almost exclusively dedicated to a single aim, teaching his son the art of pleasing.
Earl Chesterfield advised his son, repetitively and exhaustively, about how to impress and influence the people around him. Because Philip Stanhope was illegitimate, he didn’t have access to the social world his father inhabited. He wrote instructive letters to his son on how to stand, how to speak, what to say, and when to say it. The letters are so didactic they feel as though Chesterfield himself was performing for the people Stanhope would attempt to impress.
What made these private letters so compelling that they became one of the most popular publications of the period and influenced British and American society well into the 20th century?
His letters live on as popular commodities long after Chesterfield's death, a virtual Age of Enlightenment Etiquette book. Rich in cultural, political, historical, biographical, and literary allusions, these volumes are an important glimpse into 18th century customs and manners, as well as into Chesterfield’s own idiosyncrasies.
Of note, Virginia Woolf was a well-known Chesterfield Scholar, she wrote an important essay on Letters to His Son.
Editor, Philip Henry Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope (1805-1875), was an English Historian, better known as Lord Mahon.
The Four Volume Set is in VERY GOOD Condition. There is some staining/darkening to the spines (from old glue?); there is wear to the cover spine folds, edges, and corners; Vol. I has chipping to the top of the spine; there is light foxing throughout, heavier in some areas and on the plates; there is a bit of insect damage near the spines and at the inner spine folds; the inner hinges are cracking or are cracked, and are somewhat fragile; a few pages have chipping to the bottom edge; the covers of Vol. I and Vol. II were bound in reverse (Vol. I states Vol. II on the spine and visa versa); nonetheless, overall the covers and the inner pages are quite lovely – tight, bright, clean and unmarked. A Solid, Handsome Four Volume Set of these Scarce 163 Year Old Books.
A Remarkable Classic Series of Chesterfield’s Private Letters, Written to his Son, which after his Death, were sold by his Son’s Widow and Published - Against his Wishes . . .
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