Binding: marbled calfskin, spine with five raised bands, compartments decorated with gilt floral motifs, title label in red morocco. Illustrations: frontispiece engraving by Pierre LANDRY representing commercial activity in a port, decorative bands, tailpieces, initials, plate representing scales, 2 large volumes in-4 (20 x 26.5 cm), xxxviii - 1f. (catalogue of the books of the Widow Estienne) 488 pages. - 104 pages; 23 pages (including title page) - 747 pages, Condition Good condition, wear and tear consistent with its age, some flacking present in the binding. More information about this book: At the end of a successful career as a haberdashery merchant, Jacques SAVARY, thanks to the support of Nicolas FOUQUET, reached a profitable and envied position: the farm of the estates of the crown. Unfortunately for him, he finds himself drawn into the disgrace of his protector and loses his office without being able to be compensated for the sums he had invested in it. On the verge of ruin, he managed to attract the benevolence of Chancellor SÉGUIER who asked him to participate in commercial arbitrations. In 1670, COLBERT, in recognition of his merits, appointed him to the Trade Reform Council. Responsible for setting the rules to be followed in the practice of trade on land or sea, this organization developed an Ordinance on trade which was published in 1673. This document will go down in history under the name of Code Savary, proof of the role eminent that SAVARY played in its elaboration; this edict will mark a milestone by requiring traders to keep accounts for the first time. Solicited by the major trading houses, and on the strength of his new reputation, Jacques SAVARY undertook the drafting of a real practical manual intended to introduce merchants to “modern” commercial techniques and knowledge of current legislation. To carry out his task, he refers to the many reports and memoirs he was able to consult during his previous mission. Published for the first time in 1675, The Perfect Negotiator immediately proved to be a great editorial success which, going beyond borders, was translated into German, Italian, Dutch and English. In the end, the book will know no less than eighteen official editions, not counting a dozen “pirated” editions printed in Geneva, Amsterdam and Lyon. In 1688, he supplemented The perfect trader with the book Parères, or Opinions and advice on the most important matters of commerce. This second work would subsequently be included in all the corrected and amended reissues of Le Parfait negociant that would follow one another until 1800. The Comptroller General of Finance then entrusted him with a very profitable task of examining the accounts of the Domaines d’Occident. Illness and infirmity will darken the last years of SAVARY's life, who will die in Paris in 1690. Of his seventeen children, two will follow in his footsteps: Jacques SAVARY des BRÛLONS, author of the famous Universal Dictionary of Commerce and Philémon Louis SAVARY des BRÛLONS who, although an ecclesiastic, contributed to the writing of his brother's book by providing it with a supplement. The latter is also the author of corrections included in Le Parfait Négociant from the seventh edition dated 1713. The book presented here is above all a practical and methodical guide for anyone who wants to enter a commercial career. Aware that a good merchant must in all circumstances maintain a clear and vigilant analytical mind, he warns novices against three major pitfalls: ignorance, imprudence and poorly controlled ambition associated with excessive greed. , "because there is no profession where wit and good sense are no longer necessary". Considering that the origin of these deviations is essentially due to a lack of instruction, he devotes the first part of the book to the description of a “minimal” program of practical and technical training for apprentices. He describes a base of knowledge that they must have assimilated during their training, such as weights and measures, rules of exchange and discount. Morals are not forgotten, as evidenced by a long chapter entitled “How apprentices should behave in their master’s house”.