‎(SAINTARD, P.)‎
‎Roman Politique sur l'État présant Des affaires de l'Amérique, ou Lettres de M***. à M***. Sur les moyens d'établir une Paix solide & durable dans les Colonies, & la Liberté générale du Commerce extérieur.‎

‎A Amsterdam, Et se trouve à Paris chez Duchesne, 1756. xlvii, (1), 352 pp. 12mo. Contemporary marbled calf, spine richly gilt with raised bands, red label with gilt lettering, red edges. Echerverria & Wilkie 56/40; Sabin 75520; Chadenat 4121; JFBL S61; INED 4034; Higgs 1501; Kress 5567; Conlon 56:1257; not in Goldsmiths; not in Einaudi. First edition, and very rare, of this work which discusses in 18 letters and at the moment the Seven Years' War was about to start, the consequences of the presence of various European nations in North America with the aim to find some sort of balance of power between the various colonizing European nations, to avoid a war and to encourage commerce and trade. 'There are several issues of this edition occasioned by cancellanda (D4-5, D11-12, E10, G11, and I5-8, all of which are present in this copy). No copy is known, however, that is not a mixture of both canellanda and cancellantia: thus, what the original text was as first printed is problematic. (.....) In the two BN copies, (....), the imprint date has been alterted in manuscript to read M.DCC.LVII. (This is also the case with the present copy where the second 'I' has been added in manuscript.) This is a series of letters dated July-September 1756, forming an essay on international power politics with special reference to European colonial systems in America' (Echeverria & Wilkie).'Intéressant pour l'origine de la guerre du Canada' (Chadenat). 'A consideration of Europe's involvement in North America with a view to establishing a balance of power among the colonizing nations which would eliminate war and encourage commerce' (JFBL). 'Déterminer la nature des divers équilibres propres aux différentes colonies septentrionales et méridionales des peuples de l'Europe, en étudiant les variations de leurs cultures, leur commerce, leur population, leurs différentes distances, etc.' (INED). - Contemporary signature and author's name in blank portion of title. ‎

Reference : 24270

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