TOCQUEVILLE (Alexis de). Democracy in America. Paris: Librairie de Charles Gosselin, 1835-1840. - 4 volumes in-8, 204 x 130: (2 ff.), XXIV, 367 pp, 1 map; (2 ff.), 459 pp; (2 ff.), V pp, (1 f.), 333 pp; (2 ff.), 363 pp. Half blond calf, smooth spine decorated, marbled edges (contemporary binding). Very rare first edition of the first part forming volumes 1 and 2, and second edition of the second part, dated the same as the original. This analysis of American democracy is undoubtedly the most important work by Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859), and its visionary aspect has made it a classic and a point of reference for our society. This is how the author presented his work in a letter to his friend and translator Henry Reeve: "I am writing in a country and for a country where the cause of equality has now been won, with no possible return to aristocracy. In this state of things, I felt it my duty to dwell particularly on the evil tendencies which equality can give rise to, in order to try to prevent my contemporaries from indulging in them. This is the only honourable task for those who write in a country where the struggle is over. I therefore speak truths that are often very hard on French society today and on democratic societies in general, but I do so as a friend and not as a censor..." (Tocqueville. (Tocqueville. Complete works. VI. English Correspondence, 1954, pp. 47-48). A fine copy in uniform contemporary binding, complete with colour map of America. Spine lightened and stained. Freckles and a few browned leaves.