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Title Page of De l'Esprit des loix, 1749 Edition (Geneva)

Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu · 1749

The title page of the 1749 edition of Montesquieu's major work on political theory, The Spirit of the Laws.

This is the title page of Montesquieu's own major work, The Spirit of the Laws, authored by him.

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Title page of De l'Esprit des loix, printed in Geneva by Barrillot & Fils. Large title text in capitals, subtitle in italics, Tome Premier, an ornamental vignette with a column and the Latin motto Ex recto decus, and a circular library stamp at right.
Montesquieu, De l'Esprit des loix, 1749. Printed in Geneva by Barrillot & Fils.

About this source

What it is

This is the title page of a 1749 edition of De l'Esprit des loix (The Spirit of the Laws), written by Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu. This edition was printed in Geneva by Barrillot & Fils.

Why it matters

This work became one of the most influential texts in the history of political thought, shaping ideas about government and law in the eighteenth century and beyond. The title page itself, with its ornamental design and Latin motto, shows how such serious works were presented to the reading public.

Look closer

  • Why might a title page include a decorative vignette and a Latin motto?
  • What does the phrase 'Tome Premier' tell you about how this work was originally published?
  • What questions would you want answered before reading the rest of the book, just from this page?

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Title page of the first volume of De l'Esprit des loix, printed in Geneva by Barrillot & Fils. Large title in capitals, a decorative emblem with a column and the motto 'EX RECTO DECUS', and handwritten marginal notes in brown ink at top.Book

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The Spirit of the Laws

Montesquieu · 1748

Title page of a book reading 'LETTRES PERSANES, TOME I', with a central decorative floral ornament, and the imprint 'A COLOGNE, Chez Pierre Marteau, Imprimeur-Libraire, près le Collège des Jésuites' and date 'M. DCC. LIV.'Book

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Persian Letters

Montesquieu · 1721

De l'esprit des loix (volume III), Amsterdam and Leipzig, 1759Book

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De l'esprit des loix (volume III), Amsterdam and Leipzig, 1759

Montesquieu · 1759

Title page of a French book: 'Montesquieu. Considérations sur les causes de la grandeur des Romains et de leur décadence', with an introduction and notes by L. Petit de Julleville, huitième édition, published in Paris by Librairie Ch. Delagrave.Book

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Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and their Decline

Montesquieu · 1734

Title page of the first volume of De l'Esprit des loix, printed in Geneva by Barillot & Fils. Large capitals read DE L'ESPRIT DES LOIX, followed by a subtitle in smaller type, a rule, and TOME PREMIER at the bottom.Document

Primary source

De l'Esprit des loix, Volume 1, Title Page

Montesquieu · 1748-1750

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