CHARRON, PIERRE. De la Sagesse Livres Trois. [20], 772 [i. e,. 768], [12] pages, including errata leaf and 2 blanks at end. 8vo, 153x97 mm, 19th-century green morocco gilt by Duru dated 1854, with the arms of François-Victor Masséna, second Duke of Rivoli and third Prince of Essling (1799-1863; cf. Olivier 2466) on covers; contents toned, minor marginal dampstaining toward end, blank upper outer corner of last several leaves restored. Bordeaux: Simon Millanges, 1601
first edition of the major book by a priest and theologian (1541-1603) heavily influenced by Montaigne, " . . . one of the first modern works to set forth a naturalistic moral theory independent of religious considerations, and based primarily on Stoic ideas. Charron's views were extremely popular in the seventeenth century, and they influenced many skeptically inclined thinkers in France and England" (REP). Tchemerzine I, 253.
