1740 French “La Fable des Abeilles” – Complete Four-Volume Set in Contemporary Calf

1740 French “La Fable des Abeilles” – Complete Four-Volume Set in Contemporary Calf   This exceptional four-volume set is the 1740 French translation of Bernard Mandeville’s La Fable des Abeilles, ou les Fripons devenus Honnêtes Gens, rendered from the sixth English edition of The Fable of the Bees. First published in 1714, Mandeville’s provocative satire argued that private vice—greed, vanity, self-interest—could, paradoxically, generate public benefit. Those ideas would ripple through 18th-century debates on economics, morality, and society and helped shape later Enlightenment thought.   The French edition, printed “à Londres, aux dépens de la Compagnie” (in London at the expense of the Company), was likely produced on the Continent for the French market and played an important role in transmitting Mandeville’s ideas across Europe. Read and hotly debated by Enlightenment circles, the work’s controversial reputation led to frequent censorship and heavy use, making complete early sets increasingly difficult to find.     Edition & Binding Details     Title: La Fable des Abeilles, ou les Fripons devenus Honnêtes Gens. Avec le Commentaire… Author: Bernard Mandeville (1670–1733) Language: French (translated from the English) Publication: “A Londres, aux dépens de la Compagnie”, MDCCXL (1740) Format: Complete in four volumes Binding: Full contemporary mottled calf Spines: Raised bands with gilt floral tooling and titled compartments, red leather spine labels Edges: All edges dyed red Endpapers: Marbled papers with woven ribbon markers present in volumes Size: Handsome small-octavo / duodecimo format, ideal for a desk or library shelf     The bindings have that understated but refined mid-18th-century look associated with private scholarly libraries—warm mottled calf, delicate gilt ornaments, and red edges that glow softly when the volumes are stacked.     Condition     These volumes present beautifully for their age with the kind of honest wear collectors expect from 18th-century books:   Rubbing, scuffing, and color variation to the calf boards Wear and small losses to spine ends and joints; one volume with more noticeable chipping at the lower spine Some cracking to the leather along the hinges, but the bindings remain generally sound and very displayable Light surface marks and spots to the boards Interiors clean overall: pages retain a lovely, slightly creamy tone with crisp type; occasional foxing or small age spots consistent with 18th-century paper Red edges remain strong and even, adding a subtle but luxurious detail when the set is shelved or stacked     Despite the age and use, the set retains its integrity, charm, and presence—especially notable given that many copies survive only as odd volumes.     Why This Set Matters     La Fable des Abeilles is one of the Enlightenment’s most influential and unsettling texts, questioning conventional morality and suggesting that “private vices” might underpin public prosperity. This 1740 French edition brought those ideas into conversation with the French philosophes and broader European intellectual life. Having all four volumes together, in their contemporary bindings, offers not only a rare collectible but a tangible piece of that debate.   Display it in a study, library, or office where the gilt spines and red edges can be seen—this is the kind of set that instantly communicates history, intellect, and character.         Why We Love It     We love how this set balances quiet elegance with bold ideas: warm mottled calf, gilt floral spines, marbled endpapers, and red edges wrapped around one of the most provocative works of the 18th century. The fact that all four volumes remain together, in their original bindings, makes it feel like you’re adopting a complete little Enlightenment library—something a philosopher, jurist, or economist might have kept within arm’s reach. It brings real depth and gravitas to any shelf.       A rare and important complete Enlightenment set in contemporary bindings—perfect for serious collectors of early economic thought, philosophy, or fine antiquarian books.