Code Nature by Morelly, First Edition (6 results)

Soft cover. Condition: Good. 1st Edition. creasing to spine, scattered markings to text, otherwise sound, octavo size paperback, 335 pages, French text.

Soft cover. 8vo. pp 335. Paperback. Original publisher's white cover, lettered black. Text in French. Covers slightly dusty, otherwise sound, clean, very good.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. First Edition. A beautiful, fresh and complete copy in a contemporary calf binding; scarce thus. Housed in a full leather custom box. The first edition of Morelly's influential major work, in which a severe concept of economic equality introduces an entirely new utopian model. Hartig called it the 'oeuvre mâitresse de la pensée utopique du XVIII siècle. Many 19th-century writers admitted its influence, including Fourier, Cabet, Proudhon, Louis Blanc, Engels and Marx, who quoted Morelly on the dangers of private ownership. 'Morelly argued that the code of nature was completely communistic. Starting out from the proposition that moral evil, the essence of which was avarice, could be explained by social conditions Morelly portrayed and advocated an ideal communistic society in which it would be 'impossible to be depraved.' (.In many respects Morelly's system anticipates the rationalistic utopianism of Fourier.' (Kingsley Martin in ESS, vol. xi, pp. 10 ff).

Erstausgabe. 8°, 1 fliegendes Blatt, 235 (1) S., 2 Bl. Table des Matieres, 1 fl. Bl., gestochene Titelvignette, ZUSTAND -1, berieben und bestoßen, einige Wurmlöcher, bzw. Fraßspuren im Gelenk, Vorsatz u. fl. Blatt braunfleckig Ganzlederband der Zeit mit goldgeprägtem Rückentitel u. reicher Rückenvergoldung, marmorierter Schnitt.

Hardcover. Dust Jacket Included. 1st Edition. Very little is known about MorellyÑbiographers and bibliographers donÕt even know his first name. He was born at Vitry-le-Franois, where he possibly taught. The present work is his most important. It is an early example of socialist thought and has much in common with RousseauÕs early works, though instead of a social contract, Morelly favors a society without any contract at all. Like Rousseau, Morelly considers human nature essentially good, but corruptible by society. He argues for an egalitarian state with no private ownership. His other writings include a Utopian prose epic, Naufrage des iles flottantes ou la Basiliade (1753) and a work on education, Essai sur lÕesprit humain, ou principes naturels de lÕeducation. )1743). Karl Marx was favorably impressed by Morelly. Octavo. 236, [4] pp. Title-page in black and red. Contemporary mottled calf, gilt spine with brown calf label, edges sprinkled brown. Light wear to joints, old name inked out in the bottom margin of the title, causing a hole and some residual ink on the next leaf, not affecting text. Some minor foxing. A good, clean copy. First edition. Kress, 5457 ; Goldsmiths, 9074 ; Einaudi, 4031.

Par-Tout (i.e. Paris or Liège), Chez le vrai Sage, 1755. Small 8vo. Lovely contemporary full mottled calf with five raised bands to richly gilt spine. And excellent nice, clean, and fresh copy, printed on good paper. Old owner's name to title-page and a bookplate to inside of front board (M. Ph. de Planterose). Title-page printed in red and black and with an engraved vignette. 236, (4) pp. First edition of this canonical work of revolutionary utopianism, Morelly's main work, which greatly influenced later socialist and communist thought and which constitutes a forerunner of the works of Marx and Engels. The work was published anonymously and the author Étienne-Gabriel Morelly (1717 - 1778) remains a bit of a mystery about whom very little is known. At first, "The Code of Nature" was attributed to Denis Diderot, but other great authors of the day have also been proposed. "The Code of Nature" constitutes an early example of utopian socialist thought, providing a detailed plan for the establishment of a perfect state. It severely criticized the society of the time and proposed a constitution intended to lead to an egalitarian society without property, marriage, church or police. Based upon the principle that man is by nature good and the view that all social and moral ills were consequences of private property, it argues for an egalitarian society in which almost all private property - and thereby all of its pernicious consequences - is eliminated. Due to these radical views, Morelly is considered a significant forerunner of later socialist and communist thinkers, including Marx, Engels, Fourier, Proudhon, Babeuf, etc."The Code of Nature" had in immense impact on contemporary and later thought because it not only constitutes a theoretical utopia, but rather a sound analytical treatise with utopian elements. It reflects a realistic approach to society and includes a legislative program to return the State to a government in accordance with the natural solidarity and affection of humanity in which Morelly believed so strongly. "The Code of Nature" not only influenced later socialist and communist thinkers, it was also avidly discussed by contemporary Enlightenment thinkers such as Lessing, Wieland, Baumgarten, etc., and the work appeared in numerous editions throughout the 18th century. Einaudi: 4031" Kress: 5457.