8vo. viii, [4] ,179 , [1], lxxix, [1]pp. Contemporary gilt-tooled tree-calf, contrasting red morocco lettering-piece. Lightly rubbed and marked. Scattered spotting.

The 'fourth' edition of Enlightenment polymath Cesare Beccaria's (1738-1794) seminal work on criminology. First published anonymously at Livorno in 1764 as Dei Delitti e Delle Pene, the text was widely reprinted, its impact on the development of criminal law, and the treatment of the incarcerated, astronomical. The abolition of torture and capital punishment in numerous European nations may be traced to the work; Beccaria's writings formed the basis of the penal code of the French Revolution in 1791; and his views were cited in the debates surrounding the founding of the US constitution and Bill of Rights. The English translation (initially published in 1767) restored Beccaria's original format as first published and included the commentary by Voltaire, endorsing the work and its principles, which did much to promote the book on the Continent. Newbery had previously issued a fourth edition in 1770, thus actually making this the fifth edition.