NAPOLÉON: French Civil Code, original and only official edition. Paris: imprimerie de la République, An XII-1804. In-4, half blond basane with corners, ornate spine, red edges (period binding). In-4 first edition of this historic work, which today forms the basis of French civil law: "Napoleon succeeded where all governments had failed before him: the adoption of a well-written, easy-to-interpret Code of Civil Laws, the triumph of written law over custom. He was the driving force behind this great work, conceived and prepared by a cohort of first-rate jurists, to whom he provided the means to work, not without occasionally intervening to settle certain questions. The undertaking was eminently political: more than a conception of law, it contained a vision of society. It was not just a matter of compiling, but of building around major ideological options. Launched on August 12, 1800, the project took almost four years to complete. [...] This code was the first in a long series covering civil law (rights and relations between citizens), commercial law (to organize trade) and criminal law (punishment of offenses)" (Fondation Napoléon, site napoleon.org). Rubbing to binding, wormhole at bottom of spine, one corner damaged. Provenance: Goyffon, with contemporary signature on verso of last leaf.