HISTORY OF EUROPE FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION IN MDCCLXXXIX TO THE RESTORATION OF THE BOURBONS IN MDCCCXV

Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1847-48. Seventh Edition. 183 x 120 mm. (7 1/4 x 4 3/4"). 20 volumes..
EXCEPTIONALLY FINE CONTEMPORARY TREE CALF, boards with gilt floral scroll frame, raised bands, spine panels with central fleuron surrounded by anular dots and scrolling floral cornerpieces, red and green morocco labels (two with gilt titling, one small circular volume number), marbled endpapers and edges. With frontispiece portrait of Alison. Front pastedown with bookplate of Edward Nicholas Hurt (see below). Trivial imperfections (insignificant scratches to boards, very minor rubbing to top edge of spines, a bit of foxing limited to endpapers), but AN EXTRAORDINARILY ATTRACTIVE COPY IN NEARLY PRISTINE CONDITION.

This is an outstanding copy of the first scholarly survey of the French Revolution in English, written by the prominent Edinburgh legal figure and historian Alison (1792-1867) and first published from 1833-43. It was a great commercial success, despite its conservative Tory perspective, which saw democracy as a threat to good government and reliable social order. The bookplate here is that of notable bibliophile and barrister Edward Nicholas Hurt (1795-1867) of Derbyshire and Marylebone, London. He married Caroline Strutt, daughter of the immensely wealthy philanthropist and social reformer Joseph Strutt (1765-1844), who was twice Mayor of Derby. As the Strutt arms are incorporated into the escutcheon of Hurt's ornate bookplate, the plate can be dated to no earlier than their wedding in 1828..