History of European Morals from Augustus to Charlemagne.

The first edition of this insightful history of the various moral code and changes from ancient Greece to the reign of the first Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne (AD 748-814) by the Anglo-Irish historian William Edward Hartpole Lecky (1838-1903).

The work begins with chapter on the 'natural history of morals' examining the 'rival claims of intuition and utility' as the basis of human ethics, and closes with a chapter on the position of women across history.

A handsome copy in contemporary tan calf gilt from the library of Edward Strutt, 1st Baron Belper (1801-1880), who served variously as Member of Parliament for Derby, Arundel, and Nottingham from 1830 until 1852. He was raised to the peerage as Baron Belper in 1856.

First edition; 2 vols; 8vo (22.5 x 14.5 cm); bookplate to front pastedown of each vol., spotting to endpapers, otherwise internally clean; contemporary polished tan calf, covers ruled in gilt, gilt spine in 6 compartments, contrasting red and green morocco lettering-pieces, marbled edges, extremities a little rubbed, rear joint of vol. I split but holding, very good; xviii, 498; x, 423, [1]pp.