‎GROTIUS, H.‎
‎Le droit de la guerre et de la paix par Hugues Grotius. Nouvelle traduction par Jean Barbeyrac, ...... Avec des Notes de l'Auteur même, qui n'avoient point encore paru en Francois; & de nouvelles Notes du Traducteur. Tome Premier [- Tome Second.]‎

‎A Amsterdam, Chez Pierre de Coup, 1724. With a fine engraved portrait of Grotius by P. van Gunst after Miereveldt, titles printed in red and black, and title vignettes. Two volumes. (6), xliii, (3), 518 pp.; 519-1001, (39) pp. Large 4to. Contemporary speckled calf, richly gilt spines with raised bands, labels with gilt lettering, gilt double fillets on sides, joints a bit rubbed, marbled edges, a very fine copy. Ter Meulen-Diermanse 654; Dekkers, p. 70, item 6; Printing and the Mind of Man, 125 (for the first edition). This is the first French edition of the famous Barbeyrac translation of Grotius great work and the foundation of modern international law. It is the second French translation after the translation by Antoine de Courtin and this Barbeyrac translation became the basis for all later French editions and translations while the very valuable notes and comments added by Barbeyrac were included in many editions of this work in many other languages. Barbeyrac indicates in the preface that he has based this translation on the first edition of 1625 and the important Blaeu edition of 1632. This last edition was a reprint of the 1631 Blaeu editon and this edition contained a large number of corrections and additons by Grotius himself. The 1631 edition is considered to be the definitive text of this famous work.The Dutch jurist Hugo Grotius is the founder of the modern concept of international law and is celebrated for his treatise on the law of war and peace, De jure belli ac pacis, 1625. Severing law from theology, he argued there that actions were bound by natural law, based on man's own nature and independent of God, and that on the basis of the law of nature it was possible to formulate a coherent code suitable for all times and places. The section dealing with the "law of peace" had no parallel in the work of any predecessor; it was a marvel of inductive juridical composition and formed the foundation of the whole system. The work is considered to be one of the pioneering texts of modern international law. - A very nice copy. ‎

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