Catherine II, Empress of Russia. Instruction...pour travailler à la rédaction d'un nouveau Code de Loix..., Lausanne, François Grasset & Comp., 1769 bound with 2 others

Catherine II, Empress of Russia. Instruction...pour travailler à la rédaction d'un nouveau Code de Loix..., engraved title vignette, engraved portrait of Catherine by C.-A.Boily, Lausanne, François Grasset & Comp., 1769 bound after Jaquet de Malzet (Louis-Sébastien) Le Militaire Citoyen, ou l'Emploi des Hommes, first edition, one or two rust spots, Amsterdam, et se trouve a Paris, N.B.Duchesne, 1760 bound with Bourguignon d'Anville (Jean-Baptiste) L'Empire Turc considéré dans son Établissement et dans ses Accroissemens successifs, first edition, with initial and final blanks, Paris, Imprimerie Royale, 1772, together 3 works in 1 vol., contemporary calf-backed blue paste-paper boards, spine gilt with label lettered "Recueil No.14", slightly rubbed, a couple of wormholes to foot of spine, 8vo

⁂ The first mentioned is Catherine the Great's famous "Great Instructions", originally published in 1767 in Moscow. Catherine appointed a commission consisting of representatives from all ranks and provinces to create a new code of law in Moscow, which was dismissed without success in 1768. The present instruction for the commission reflected some progressive ideas adapted from the texts of Montesquieu and Beccaria. Library Hub lists only one copy in the UK (National Library of Scotland).