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First edition, complete with the errata leaf, and very rare thus. The leaf "was bound in a scarce number of examples" (translated from Firpo, p. 389): only three copies such were known to Beccaria's bibliographer Firpo in 1984 (two in Italian institutions, one was his own), and only two can be traced at auction in over 60 years. Beccaria composed the work in Milan between March 1763 and January 1764, and the manuscript was sent to Livorno on 12 April to be printed by Coltellini. Published anonymously for fear of a negative reaction from the Austrian government in Milan, the book proved immediately popular, with more than 500 copies sold during the first month. Despite its inclusion in the papal index of forbidden books in 1766, the work maintained its popularity: it was reprinted in five subsequent editions within 18 months and eventually translated into 22 languages. It was read with enthusiasm by contemporary philosophers and political thinkers including Voltaire (who wrote a commentary on it), the encyclopaedists Diderot and D'Alembert, Hume, Hegel, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. "Beccaria maintained that the gravity of the crime should be measured by its injury to society and that the penalties should be related to this. The prevention of crime he held to be of greater importance than its punishment, and the certainty of punishment of greater effect than its severity. He denounced the use of torture and secret judicial proceedings. He opposed capital punishment, which should be replaced by life imprisonment; crimes against property should be in the first place punished by fines, political crimes by banishment; and the conditions in prisons should be radically improved. Beccaria believed that the publication of criminal proceedings, verdicts and sentences, as well as furthering general education, would help to prevent crime. These ideas have now become so commonplace that it is difficult to appreciate their revolutionary impact at the time" (PMM). This copy has an early legal provenance, from the library of the Milanese lawyer Antonio Bellani, with his Latin ownership inscription and a note in Italian indicating that he bought the book on 30 August 1814 on the rear endpapers. Bellani made some corrections to the text, following the indications on the errata leaf. Firpo, vol. I, p. 539; Landry, p. 22; Melzi I, 281; PMM 209. Quarto (200 x 143 mm). Contemporary mottled sheep, spine with raised bands, compartments tooled in gilt, blind rules on covers, gilt roll on board edges, marbled endpapers, edges sprinkled blue, green silk bookmarker. Typographical ornaments on title and following leaf. Near-contemporary inscription "Da Firenze, G. L." on a rear blank. Binding a little rubbed and scuffed, couple of small patches of skinning, subtle cosmetic repairs at spine ends and corners, intermittent faint foxing or small marks to contents, otherwise clean. An excellent, well-margined copy.

Cesare Beccaria's seminal work, "Dei delitti e delle pene," translated into English as "On Crimes and Punishments," marks a monumental shift in the landscape of criminal justice and criminology. Published in 1764, this groundbreaking treatise laid the foundations for the modern criminal justice system, advocating for the reform of the legal and penal system in a manner that was radically ahead of its time. Beccaria's ideas not only influenced the development of criminal law in Western Europe but also had a profound impact on the Enlightenment philosophers of his era. This essay delves into the core themes, arguments, and enduring legacy of "On Crimes and Punishments," highlighting its significance in the annals of legal and philosophical thought. At the core of Beccaria's argument is the assertion that the system of punishment should be guided by rationality, humanity, and the principle of justice rather than by the severity of torture or the arbitrariness of the judges. Beccaria challenges the traditional practices of the criminal justice system of his time, which often involved torture and capital punishment, arguing that the purpose of punishment should be to deter crime and reform the offender, rather than to exact revenge. This represented a radical departure from the prevailing judicial practices, rooted in a belief in the innate rights of individuals and the importance of a proportional response to crime. Beccaria posits that the certainty of punishment, rather than its severity, is more effective in deterring crime. He advocates for a system where laws are clear and widely known, ensuring that individuals can understand the consequences of their actions. This principle underscores the importance of a legal system that is transparent, predictable, and fair, in which punishments are not only just but also necessary and logically connected to the crimes they are meant to deter. One of the most revolutionary aspects of Beccaria's work is his staunch opposition to the death penalty and the use of torture. He argues that the state does not have the right to take lives and that capital punishment is neither a useful deterrent nor morally justifiable. Beccaria's arguments against torture are similarly grounded in logic and humanity, emphasizing the unreliability of confessions obtained under duress and the fundamental rights of individuals to be treated with dignity and fairness. The impact of "Dei delitti e delle pene" on the development of legal thought cannot be overstated. Beccaria's ideas were instrumental in shaping the reforms of the criminal justice systems in various European countries, including the abolition of torture and the death penalty in many jurisdictions. His work also influenced prominent figures of the Enlightenment, such as Voltaire and Montesquieu, and contributed to the development of classical criminology and the modern principles of human rights. Beyond its immediate impact, Beccaria's treatise continues to resonate in contemporary debates on criminal justice reform, the ethics of punishment, and the abolition of the death penalty. His advocacy for proportionality, deterrence, and the humane treatment of offenders remains relevant, reflecting enduring principles of justice and humanity.