SAINT-PIERRE (Charles-Irénée Castel de). - Lot 134

SAINT-PIERRE (Charles-Irénée Castel de). Abrégé du projet de paix perpétuelle, Inventé par le Roi Henri le Grand, Approuvé par la Reine Elisabeth, par le Roi Jacques son successeur, par les Républiques & par divers autres Potentats. Rotterdam, Jean Daniel Beman, and sold in Paris, by Briasson, 1729. In-12, fawn calf, gilt fillet and small fleuron at corners, ornate spine, red title page, gilt edges (period binding). First edition. Abridgement of the famous Projet de paix perpétuelle published in 1712-1713, in which the author proposed the creation of a general alliance of all European sovereigns: he advocated a European Diet, sitting in Utrecht, composed of representatives from each country. With the territorial status of participating nations guaranteed, the Diet would mediate and arbitrate disputes between states. Armed intervention was provided for only against any member of the alliance that failed to comply with the arbitration decision. There can be no doubting the modernity and generosity of this project, which also had the advantage for States of "procuring a very considerable reduction in their military expenditure" (cf. En français dans le texte, n°137). This project, very modern for its time, prefigured to some extent the Europe of today. A few handwritten annotations from the period. Modern bookplate Noël Pinelli. Restorations to binding (hinges, headpieces and corners).