The "Characters" of Jean de La Bruyère Newly Rendered into English by Henri Van Laun With an introduction, A Biographical Memoir and Notes by La Bruyère, Jean de - 1885

New York: Scribner & Welford, John C. Nimmo, London [Ballantyne Press], 1885. One of 300 copies printed. This is number 46. 24 Etchings by B. Damman and V. Foulquier, plates on tissue tipped in. 1 vols. 8vo. Black morocco, gilt cornerpieces. Upper joint neatly repaired, some light rubbing and light offsetting, else a good, handsome copy of this work. One of 300 copies printed. This is number 46. 24 Etchings by B. Damman and V. Foulquier, plates on tissue tipped in. 1 vols. 8vo. This was originally published in 1688 as "Caractères de Théophraste traduits du grec, avec les Caractères ou les Moeurs de ce siècle." The original contributions by La Bruyère are primarily observations on character and conduct describing portraits of people and their failings, many were thinly disguised descriptions of living people. It was first translated into English in 1699 and is credited with greatly having influenced the English essayists of that time.