243 - [PHILOSOPHY]. Collection of Ancient Moralists.

[PHILOSOPHY]. Collection of Ancient Moralists. First edition of this important anthology of ancient philosophers and moralists (Seneca, Cicero, Socrates, Epictetus, and Confucius), in beautiful matching bindings by Lebrun. Paris, Didot and De Bure, 1782–1795. 16 in-12 volumes (135 x 85 mm), each bound in green glazed half-calf, spine with raised bands outlined in gold dots and cold-stamped, special gold-stamped design in panels, title in gold letters, covers, linings, and endpapers of marbled paper, gilt edges. Bindings signed “Lebrun” at the bottom. Approximately 200 pages per volume, title vignettes featuring the coat of arms of Louis XVI followed by the printer Didot’s monogram. Spines slightly faded, slight rubbing, very rare pinholes. A collective edition, featuring new or revised translations provided for the most part by the Hellenist P.-Ch. Levesque and the encyclopedist J.-A. Naigeon. Originally dedicated to King Louis XVI in 1782, the publication of this anthology spanned the entire French Revolution, culminating under the Directory in Year III (1795). It embodies the philosophical syncretism of the Enlightenment through a unique panorama of Western and Eastern wisdom. The collection offers a comparison—unprecedented for its time—between Asian philosophy (the thoughts of Confucius and Chinese authors, reflecting the 18th-century fascination with the East), the Stoic and civic traditions (Seneca, Epictetus, and Xenophon’s *Dialogues of Socrates*), as well as the great moralists and thinkers of classical antiquity (Cicero, Plutarch, Isocrates, Theophrastus, Menander, Pythagoras, and Solon). A 16-volume set composed as follows: 1. Epictetus’s Manual, translated by M. N. (M. Naigeon). 2. Moral Thoughts of Confucius, compiled and translated from Latin by M. Levesque. 3. Moral Thoughts by Various Chinese Authors, compiled and translated from Latin and Russian by M. Levesque. 4. Preliminary Discourse to Serve as an Introduction to Seneca’s Ethics by M. N. (Naigeon). 5. Seneca’s Ethics, excerpted from his works, by M. N. Volume 1 6. Seneca’s Ethics, excerpted from his works, by M. N. Volume 2. 7. Moral Thoughts of Isocrates, excerpted from his works and translated by Father Auger. 8. Moral Thoughts of Cicero, compiled and translated by Mr. Levesque. 9. Theophrastus’s *Characters* and Menander’s *Moral Thoughts*, translated by Mr. Levesque. 10. Sayings of Theognis, Phocylides, Pythagoras, and the Greek Sages, compiled and translated by Mr. Levesque. 11. The Memorable Conversations of Socrates, translated from the Greek of Xenophon by Mr. Levesque. Volume 1. 12. The Memorable Conversations of Socrates, translated from the Greek of Xenophon by Mr. Levesque. Volume 2 15. Apophthegms of the Spartans, excerpts from Plutarch, followed by the same author’s reflections on superstition. By P.-Ch. Levesque. 16. Moral Reflections by Plutarch, compiled and translated by P.-Ch. Levesque. Volume 1. 17. Moral Thoughts of Plutarch, compiled and translated by P.-Ch. Levesque. Volume 2. 18. Lives and Apophthegms of the Greek Philosophers, compiled and translated by P.-Ch. Levesque. In Paris, Year III of the Republic, 1795. Only Volumes 13 and 14 are missing (The Morals of Jesus Christ and the Apostles—Volumes 1 and 2). The set is in fine condition, in 19th-century neoclassical uniform bindings by Louis-Jacob Lebrun, a student of Simier.