MONTAIGNE (Michel Eyquem de). Journal du voyage de Michel de Montaigne en Italie, par la Suisse & l'Allemagne en 1580 & 1581. Rome et Paris, Le Jay,1774. 3 volumes in-12, bound in half basane with parchment corners, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets and title and tomaison labels (Period binding). Published and annotated by Antoine Meunier de Querlon, with the Italian text alongside the French. It was published the same year in three formats, in-4° (1 vol.), in-8° (2 vol.) and in-12 (3 vol.). It is the in-8° format that is generally considered to be the very first. Illustrated with a portrait-frontispiece after Larochebeaucourt's Montaigne au chapeau. The work begins with a picturesque account of the crossing of the Mont Cenis pass; it then offers a picturesque vision of Italy at the end of the 16th century, as well as philosophical reflections specific to the author of the Essais. The manuscript, found in Dordogne in the 18th century by Abbé Prunis, has now been lost again. This is therefore the only edition based on the originals. Ex-libris J.-M. Loustaneau pasted on the flyleaf of volume I, ex-libris Peter Obergfell pasted on the flyleaf of volume I and on the flyleaves of volumes II and III. Significant restorations to the spines, otherwise a good copy. Perret, 3070 - Tchemerzine (VIII, 443)