Les Pensées by Pascal, Blaise; Turnell, Martin (Translator); David, Ismar (Illustrations) - 1971

New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1971. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Fine/very good. David, Ismar. No. 351 of 1500, quarto size, 206 pp., signed by Ismar David, with LEC Monthly Newsletter and Announcement. Considered Blaise Pascal's (1623-1662) most influential work, "Les Pensées" ("Thoughts") is a collection of writings on Christianity, expounding Pascal's theological and philosophical views on the religion; as Pascal died before he finished the work, much effort has subsequently been made to arrange the notes in some kind of order, leading to various ways to read the text. This publication by the Limited Editions Club is illustrated by calligrapher and graphic designer Ismar David (1910-1996), who creates mesmerising geometric patterns and designs throughout the book; his illustrations swell with people and patterns moving together in a rhythm of colour and line. ___DESCRIPTION: Quarter red cloth with white cloth boards, lettering and ornament blind-embossed on the front board, gilt lettering and ornament on the spine, top edge stained red, title page with decorative border in black and lettering in black and red, decorative head- and tailpieces in black throughout, full-page colour illustrations by Ismar David throughout; linotype Electra, Mohawk eggshell wove paper, quarto size (11.5" by 8.5"), pagination: [i-iv] v-xix [xx] [1-2] 3-184 [185] [1 colophon], one of 1500 copies, this number 351, signed by Ismar David on the colophon. With the announcement, one sheet, and the LEC Monthly Newsletter, one sheet folded once to make four pages, with a horizontal crease for mailing. In a glassine wrapper, housed in a slipcase covered in dark grey paper, with silver lettering and ornament on the spine. ___CONDITION: Volume is fine, with clean boards, straight corners with no rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; an almost imperceptible stray mark to the rear board and to the bottom of the front board, else fine. The LEC Announcement and Monthly Newsletter are fine, clean and without wear. The glassine wrapper is very good, clean, with small chips to the corners, very light edge wear, sunning to the spine, and two one-inch closed tears along the front edge of the spine. The slipcase is fine, strong and sturdy, clean, without wear, with some very light soiling to the bottom edge, else fine. ___CITATION: LEC Bibliography no. 441. ___POSTAGE:  International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.