Very rare early edition (only one copy found in WorldCat) of this famous French civil code published in two volumes in 1804, the year in which also the first edition appeared (Paris, Imprimerie de la République, An XII - 1804). In 1807, its title was changed into Code Napoléon (Napoleonic Code) under which it is commonly known today.
The initiative for drawing up a civil code of laws was taken by Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) in 1800, at that time First Consul of France. The text was drafted by a commission of four eminent jurists under the presidency of the French lawyer Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès (1753-1824) who had made a first attempt in 1793 to concipiate a codification of French civil law. In France, civil law was mainly based on customary law which differed greatly from each other in various parts of the country. With a single set of laws, the traces of feudal law could also be eliminated as a consequence of the French Revolution.
This legal code is divided into three parts comprising 36 laws and 2.281 articles written in a clear and concise style. It is known that the famous French writer Stendhal (pseudonym of Marie Henri Beyle, 1783-1842) read a few pages of it every day to obtain its qualities of clarity and simplicity. The first part is mainly concerned with family law, the second part mainly with the property of goods and the third part mainly with contracts.
After the publication in 1804, a series of new French codes of law followed: in 1806 the Code de procédure civile (Code of civil procedure), in 1807 the Code de commerce (Commercial code), in 1808 the Code dinstruction criminelle (Code of criminal procedure) and in 1810 by the Code pénal (Criminal code). Due to Napoleons occupations to Germany, Italy, the Low Countries and Poland, the French civil code became highly influential in European legal history. It still leaves its mark in private law, particularly in the field of contract law, family law and property law.
With traces of use (binding slightly worn along the extremities, two corners of the back cover slightly damaged, first free endpaper missing, owners entry in black ink on the title-page of the first part, a few text pages loosening, occasionally slightly soiled/browned). Otherwise in good condition.