Jean Le Rond d' Alembert, Pierre Mouchon, Denis Diderot; Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu, MarmontelBiblio.com
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17512605210193Chez Briasson David Le Breton Durand A Paris; Amsterdam 1751 - 1777 1751. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. 0x0x0. The Organization of Enlightenment Thought: The Revolution in Ideas. A first edition of this foundational encyclopedia of 18th century knowledge. A massive thirty-five volume set. Large folios volumes 39.5 x 25 cm. Bound in 18th-century French calf. Spines gilt with raised bands. One volume non-uniformly bound in light calf. <br> The set includes: Encyclopedie Paris: 1751-57 & Neuchatel 1765. 17 volumes; Recueil de planches. Paris: 1762-72. 11 volumes 1 2 part I 2 Part II 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11; Supplement a l'Encyclopedie. Paris & Amsterdam: 1776-77. 5 volumes including the Suite de recueil de planches; Table Analytique. Paris: 1780. <br> Profusely illustrated with engraved plates. <br> Diderot's famous Encyclopedie was initially a modest translation of Chambers's Cyclopaedia. It grew as a project into a massive project which attempted to collect human knowledge from a rationalistic perspective instead of by nature or theology. In organizing knowledge from a position where human reason was paramount the supremacy of the Church was imperiled. As a result the Encyclopedie was widely controversial and placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum by the Catholic Church. In discussing fundamental philosophical issues such as on political authority and natural rights articles in the Encyclopedie shifted the basis of governmental authority from the divine right of Kings to radical concepts popular consent was the basis of legitimacy and the ideals of a social contract. The work was banned by the King of France. It spread the foundational ideas of the French Revolution and enlightenment thinkers. "No encyclopaedia perhaps has been of such political importance or has occupied so conspicuous a place in the civil and literary history of its century. It sought not only to give information but to guide opinion." "It was a war machine; as it progressed its attacks on both the church and still more on despotic government as well as Christianity itself became bolder and more undistinguished and it was met with persecution and opposition unparalleled in the the history of encyclopedias." - Encyclopedia Britannica 11th ed p. 1483. "A monument in the history of European thought; the acme of the age of reason; a prime motive force in undermining the ancien regime and in heralding the French Revolution" Printing in the Mind of Man 200. Refs: Grolier/Horblit 25b; Norman 637; PMM 200. <br> Includes: 17 v. : ill. ; 41 cm. supplement 4 volumes plates 11 volumes plates supplement 1 volume. Table Analytique 1 volume. This is an oversized or heavy book which requires additional postage for international delivery outside the US. Chez Briasson, David, Le Breton, Durand, A Paris; Amsterdam (1751 - 1777) hardcover
1759752Genève Geneva: Cramer 1759. First Edition. 3 vols. in one 12mo 164 x 100mm pp. 2 291 1; 133 1 35 1. First printing of the great 18th century philosophical narrative with all the points correct. Including the 3 usual cancels the right title page ornament repeated pages 193 and 266 the misprints of “que ce ce fut†page 103 line 4 and “précisément†page 125 line 4 the correction removing a paragraph break page 31 the rewritten lines about the Lisbon earthquake page 41 etc. Contemporary full calf red calf label rebacked with the original spine saved and laid down recornered marbled endpapers gilt rubbed inner paper hinges strengthened old ink signatures on the endpaper and front blank tiny signature on the title page one tissue strengthened tear at the bottom of A2 touching the last 3 lines of text without any loss otherwise internally quite nice clean and very good. Bound without N7 a blank and N8 a notice to the binder as is usual agreeing in all respects to what you would have received if you had purchased a copy in sheets on publication day then bought the sequels and then handed them over to the most local Swiss bindery. Ref: PMM 204. There were 18 editions of Candide in 1759. It took 221 years for a clear and convincing bibliography to first sort them out and then got accepted and once accepted our real 1st edition was confirmed as rare. In the last 15 years however that bibliographical data has been more widely circulated and several 1st editions that weren’t on the original 22–copy census have come into market. It is still scarce more so in a contemporary binding.<br /> <br /> Candide bides as the epitomic philosophical fable of the French Enlightenment and the genotype of irony without exaggeration and though it’s laced with more salt than the postwar streets of Carthage it repeatedly tolls a reminder that light hearts live long. Most importantly Candide remains remarkably relevant when examined through contemporary frameworks functioning as an incisive proto-postcolonial text that anticipates modern discourse on global inequality systems of oppression and the limitations of Enlightenment rationality. The novel's scathing portrayal of slavery conquest and religious persecution resonates with intersectional analyses that recognize how power structures interlock across racial gender and economic dimensions. The savage irony throughout the text dismantles not just philosophical optimism but also European exceptionalism exposing the hypocrisy of colonial enterprises and religious institutions alike. The narrative's episodic structure—with its global movements between Europe South America and the Ottoman Empire—invites discussions of transnationalism and diasporic experience while Candide's concluding retreat to cultivate his garden has been reinterpreted by ecocritical scholars as both an acknowledgment of environmental interdependence and a potentially problematic withdrawal from systems-level political engagement.<br /> <br /> “Do you believe†said Candide “that men have always massacred each other as they do to-day that they have always been liars cheats traitors ingrates brigands idiots thieves scoundrels gluttons drunkards misers envious ambitious bloody–minded calumniators debauchees fanatics hypocrites and fools†“Do you believe†said Martin “that hawks have always eaten pigeons when they have found them†<br /> –Voltaire Candide. Cramer unknown
1784191724Kehl: De L'imprimerie de la Société Littéraire-Typographique 1784-89. Canonizing Voltaire an enterprise on the eve of Revolution The first complete collection known as the "Kehl" edition for the small German town in which it was printed to avoid French censorship. After his death the Société Littéraire Typographique was founded there dedicated to the monumental effort of disseminating Voltaire's work through a definitive and typographically magnificent edition. The group of Enlightenment intellectuals ready to champion the author were led by Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais who financed the operation and the Marquis de Condorcet who acted as chief editor. For the first time Voltaire's correspondence was published and commentary and a biography by Cordorcet was added. For the type Beaumarchais bought John Baskerville's apparatus from his widow. This coupled with the unprecedented price he paid for the rights the paper mills he purchased and the cost of setting up in Kehl bankrupted Beaumarchais. Nevertheless he concluded "Europe will be satisfied". Octavo 70 vols 213 x 134 mm. Portrait frontispiece engraved plates. Contemporary mottled calf signed by François Gaudreau at foot of spines red morocco labels double gilt fillet to compartments and boards marbled endpapers varicolour bookmarkers. Superficial splits and worming to joints still very firm occasional wear contents largely clean. A very good set. hardcover
175908228Geneva: Gabriel Cramer 1759. First Edition. Full Leather. Fine. The third of the first four editions according to Bengesco 1436 and the fourth edition according to Wade see Voltaire and Candide 1959 p. 201 dated 1759 with 299 pages clandestinely printed and published by Cramer in Geneva and preceeding the other 16 different editions published throughout Europe in 1759. The present copy conforms to Bengesco 1436 in every respect which is "page by page line for line like the first edition" except for the "que ce ce fut" error on page 103 an error which was introduced by Cramer into the early printings then doubtless not "fixed" as it was correct in the first place. Note that the fleurons agree exactly with Bengesco 1436 as follows: p. 134 is a basket of fruits; p. 228 shows two horns 'a plenty; the fleuron at p. 115 is repeated on pages 179 and 193; fleuron on page 213 is signed N. C. and is repeated on page 279; page 277 is paginated 177. The present copy also agrees with Wade see Voltaire and Candide 1959 p. 201 in every respect including that page 17 is numbered 15. Both the above references to Bengesco and Wade show signatures A-N3 meaning they are bound without the Table of Chapters; the present copy like 7 of the 10 known copies of the first edition shows signatures A-N6 without the final leaves N7 a blank and without N8 instructions to the binder concerning the cancellation of two pairs of leaves B4 B9 and D6 D7. In addition to the above let us state the textual points in the present copy: page 31 B4 an unnecessary paragraph break was eliminated. The words "mais il y a une raison." do NOT start a new paragraph; page 41 B9 several short sentences about the Lisbon earthquake were rewritten as "car dit-il tout ceci est."; page 84 D6 D7 reads "Nos filles se trouverent."; page 103 reads "que ce fut." as explained above was correct to begin with then discovered by Cramer and was not "fixed"; page 125 reads "mais ils se leverent precisement."; page 242 the paragraph beginning "Candide etait afflige."; has been removed by Voltaire while the book was being printed as it was critical of German poets. Pages 121 - 168 signatures F and G are a larger type than the rest of the book. In summation the present copy agrees with the first edition except that the "que ce ce fut." error was discovered and not inserted and the fleurons differ but are by Cramer who printed the first four editions. This a wide margined copy is larger than other copies we have seen at 165 mm x 95 mm; beautifully bound in late 19th Century full tan leather with raised bands and gilt decoration on spine with a brown leather lettering piece marbled end papers all edges gilt; printed on laid paper. The text is remarkably clean and bright; a fine copy. PMM204. <br/><br/> Gabriel Cramer hardcover books
178488246s. l. Kehl: Imprimerie de la Société Littéraire-Typographique 1784. Fine. « Divine Voltaire ora pro nobis ! » Exceptional copy on large paper and contemporary binding Imprimerie de la Société Littéraire-Typographique s. l. Kehl 1784-1789 14 x 21.7 cm 70 vol. reliés The Kehl edition the most renowned edition of Voltaire's works illustrated and published on deluxe paper. It was printed on five different types of paper and only the deluxe editions such as ours on laid paper feature engravings. These are naturally the most sought-after and rarest copies. Binding in full painted sheep decorated with a honeycomb motif smooth spine tooled with gilt fleurons fillets and compartments light beige calf lettering and volume pieces gilt chain-roll border on covers marbled endpapers gilt roll on edges all edges marbled contemporary binding. Two volumes nos. 50 and 70 with slight variations in gilt tools on the spines and with orange morocco lettering pieces edges and covers treated somewhat differently. General condition of the 70 volumes: bindings with light rubbing to corners gilt a little dulled occasional foxing a few wormholes and old restorations not affecting the text. 28 volumes vols. 4 5 8 10 11 13 16 17 19 20 24 27 28 33 34 35 36 37 43 48 61 62 63 65 66 67 68 70 with cracked joints at the ends and 20 volumes vols. 8 11 12 14 16 18 33 34 37 42 46 49 53 56 57 60 65 66 68 70 with damaged caps. Two editions were published at the same time. Our copy belongs to the prestigious in-8 edition on large paper published in 70 volumes the other edition being in-12 format in 92 volumes. It is richly illustrated with 125 etched plates: - There are 17 portraits including 3 of Voltaire: a frontispiece portrait by N. de Largillière engraved by P. Alex. Tardieu; one drawn from Houdon's bust by Moreau le Jeune and engraved by P. Alex. Tardieu; and one allegorical portrait by Louis Croutelle after Moreau le Jeune belonging to the second series of illustrations of Voltaire's works executed by Moreau for the publisher Renouard. The 14 other portraits include an allegorical frontispiece of Frédéric-Guillaume Prince of Prussia depicted in profile in a medallion by Dambrun after Moreau le Jeune; a portrait of Henry IV by Pourbus engraved by Tardieu; one of Charles VII engraved after the original in the King's Cabinet by Mavieri; another of Agnès Sorel drawn by Moreau the Younger after the original in the King's Cabinet and engraved by Mavieri; one of Joan of Arc engraved by Beisson; followed by the Count of Dunois engraved after the original in the King's Cabinet by J. B. Fosseyeux; one of Louis XIV drawn by Moreau Le Jeune after C. Le Brun engraved by J. B. Fosseyeux; one of Charles XII engraved by P. Alex. Tardieu after the original in the King's Cabinet; one of Pierre I engraved by P. G. Langlois after a painting by L. Caravaque; one of Madame du Châtelet after Marie Anne Loir and engraved by P. G. Langlois; one of the Count of Argental after J. Defraine and engraved by J. B. Fosseyeux; one of Frédéric II of Prussia painted from life by Van Loo and engraved by P. G. Langlois; one of Catherine II of Russia engraved by J. B. Fosseyeux; and one of d'Alembert after De La Tour engraved by N. F. Maviez. - 93 engravings by Moreau le Jeune including 44 figures for le Théâtre engraved by Lingée Simonet de Launay Trière Halbou Duclos Romanet Dambrun de Longueil Delignon Le Mire Le Veau 10 for la Henriade engraved by Masquelier Delignon Dambrun Patas Gutemberg Helman Simonet Duclos Romanet 21 for la Pucelle engraved by Simonet Dambrun Halbou Baquoy Trière Delignon de Longueil Croutelle and Duclos 4 for the Contes in verse engraved by Langlois Duclos Delignon and Le Veau and 14 for the Romans engraved by Trière Duclos de Longueil Dambrun Baquoy Delignon Simonet Langlois and Halbou. - 14 scientific plates in volume 31 illustrating the experiments of Newton Descartes and Leibniz. - 1 battle Imprimerie de la Société Littéraire-Typographique unknown
17992091202133206278A Paris De L'imprimerie de Crapelet 1799. Soft Cover. Fine. Number of books: 2 books in total A Paris, De L'imprimerie de Crapelet paperback
178488246Imprimerie de la Société Littéraire-Typographique | s. l. [Kehl] 1784-1789 | 14 x 21.7 cm | 70 vol. reliés
178588781785 [Kehl], de limprimerie de la Société Typographique, 1785 1789. 70 volumes grand in-8° (175 x 270 mm). Exemplaire dexception sur très grand papier vélin de la fameuse édition de Voltaire financée par Beaumarchais, comportant dune part lillustration destinée aux tirages de luxe de cette édition (soit 93 planches de Jean-Michel Moreau le jeune, 12 portraits, 14 planches de physique, 1 plan, 1tableau des oeuvres de Voltaire), plus un large supplément dillustrations destinées à lédition Renouard des Oeuvres de Voltaire en 66 volumes in-8° publiée entre 1819 et 1825. Louvrage contient ainsi un total de 196 planches hors texte, soit : 113 figures de Moreau le jeune (44 pour le Théâtre, volumes 1 9; 10 pour la Henriade, volume 10; 21 pour la Pucelle dOrléans, volume 11; 6 pour les Contes en vers, volume 14; 2 pour le Siècle de Louis XIV, volumes 20 et 21; 1 pour le Siècle de Louis XV, volume 22; 1 pour lHistoire de Charles XII, volume 23; 1 pour lHistoire de Russie, volume 24; 27 pour les Romans et Contes, volumes 44 et 45); 67 portraits (33 gravés par Augustin de Saint-Aubin et 34 de graveurs divers dont Renouard possédait les cuivres); 14 planches de physique (volume 31) ; 1 plan («Camp des Tartares», volume 24 ); 1 tableau dépliant des oeuvres de Voltaire, volume 70). Impressionnantes reliures en demi-basane maroquinée bordeaux à coins, plats de papier rouge, dos lisse ornés, tranches ébarbées. Datant des environs de 1825 1830, elles sont signées (au dos du volume I): «Rel[ié] p[ar] les Dl[l]es Cotty». On ignore tout de ces personnes, dont on peut seulement supposer quelles étaient apparentées à Jean-Etienne Cotty, relieur actif à Paris de 1776 à 1820, que «Lesné [...] place parmi les bons relieurs de second ordre de son temps» (Thoinan, Les Relieurs français, page 234). Bas de la charnière inférieure du volume 11 fendu sur la moitié de sa longueur, quelques coiffes frottées, coins çà et là un peu émoussés, mais dans lensemble la collection est dans un état absolument désirable. Etiquettes collées aux premiers contreplats: «Louvard, libraire, rue du Bac, no 78»; ex-libris illustré: «André Gutzwiller» (1922 2014), banquier et bibliophile bâlois.
1759CLL-762Londres, Jean Nourse, 1759 In-12 de 299 pp., maroquin vert, triple filet doré en encadrement, dos à nerfs orné de caissons de fleurons dorés, double filet doré sur les coupes, dentelle intérieure dorée, tranches dorées sur marbrure (Thibaron).
175165145à Berlin: Chez C. F. Henning 1751. Fine. Chez C. F. Henning à Berlin 1751 8.50 x 14.50 cm 2 volumes reliés First edition displaying all the distinctive features of its publication: it presents no capital letters except at the beginning of paragraphs and it is the very first work to have been printed with Voltaire's spelling. Our copy is complete with its errata leaf which is often missing. Later bindings 19th century in full red morocco Jansenist spines with five raised bands dates and places gilt at foot boards struck at center with large gilt typographical fleurons double gilt fillets on leading edges and headcaps pastedowns lined with blue morocco presenting a wide gilt decorative border monogrammed bookplates mounted on the pastedowns of each volume following endpapers of combed paper all edges gilt bindings signed Chambolle-Duru. Superb copy perfectly established in a binding signed by a master of French bookbinding. Chez C. F. Henning hardcover
1785618023 vol. in-8 reliure plein maroquin rouge, dos à 5 nerfs dorés richement ornés, plats richements orné, double filet doré en coupes, chasses ornées, gardes doublées de maroquin bleu orné d'une belle guirlande dorée d'encadrement ornementée, toutes tranches dorées, reliure signée de Chambolle-Duru, De l'Imprimerie de la Société Littéraire Typographique, [Kehl ], 1785, 2 ff., 439 pp. et 11 figures ; 2 ff., 470 pp. et 3 figures ; 2 ff. 416 pp. et 4 figures
1790138601Paris: Basset c. 1790s. Voltaire as revolutionary icon A full-length portrait of the philosopher towards the end of his life in a fetching electric blue coat. The print is by the Parisian firm of Basset which was a leading source of popular prints during the Revolution. Voltaire was claimed as a foundational influence by many revolutionary leaders and in 1791 they arranged for his remains to be transferred to the Panthéon in Paris. Hand-coloured copperplate engraving. Image size: 70 x 52 cm. Framed size: 85 x 66.5 cm. Presented in a handmade gilt frame with conservation acrylic glazing. Light toning and chipping to extremities not touching impression several small tape repairs to extremities on verso not visible on recto: in very good condition. unknown
178059752Reliure plein maroquin bleu roi de la fin du XIXe siècle. Dos à nerfs ornés. Filets et roulette dent de rat en encadrement sur les plats. Doublures de maroquin citron à large dentelle dorée, gardes de soie bleue, doubles gardes. Toutes tranches dorées. Reliure signée Chambolle-Duru. Petite tache foncée sur le premier plat du tome 2.Elle est précédée de la Préface de Dom Apuleius Risorius, bénédictin. Le frontispice par Duplessis-Bertaux montre Jeanne d'Arc dans une auberge en butte aux hardiesses des buveurs sous les regards de Jean Chandos, du moine Grisbourdon et de Saint Denis.
175165145Chez C. F. Henning | à Berlin 1751 | 8.50 x 14.50 cm | 2 volumes reliés
177081957à Paris: Chez La veuve DuchesneSaillantDesaint 1770. Fine. Chez La veuve Duchesne Saillant Desaint à Paris 1770 11.80 x 18.50 cm 2 volumes reliés New illustrated edition with first printing by Eisen of a frontispiece an engraved title with the author's portrait in medallion 10 figures and 10 headpieces all engraved by De Longueil. Volume II contains variants and notes: L'essai sur la poésie épique poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne; Poème sur la loi naturelle etc. This edition was partly revised by Voltaire. The publishers' notice announces this edition as the only complete one since there are more than 50 new verses scattered throughout the work. Contemporary full red morocco binding. Smooth spine decorated in grotesque style. Brown morocco title label olive morocco volume label. Triple fillet frame on covers with corner fleurons. Interior fillet. All edges gilt. Traces of rubbing. Some light foxing in margins and verso of certain engravings. Superb copy rare in this condition. Very fine illustration by Eisen. Complete and critical edition with notes from different editions for each canto Marmontel's preface the author's letter of thanks to Eisen. Chez La veuve DuchesneSaillantDesaint unknown
17772308270001Geneva: Pellet 1777-79; Neuchatel: La Societe Typographique 1777. troisieme. Hardcover. Very Good. The Organization of Enlightenment Thought: The Revolution in Ideas 41 of 45 volumes. Quartos 25 x 19.5 cm. Bound in handsome catspaw calf. All edges red. Good bindings and covers. Clean unmarked pages. Includes Vol. 1-36 of the Encyclopedie important note: lacks 3 text volumes 23 30 31; Vol. 37-38: Recueil de planches pour la nouvelle edition du dictionnaire raisonne des sciences des arts et des metiers; lacks the final plate volume v.39 Vol. 40-45 Table Analytique Et Raisonnee Des Matieres. <br> Diderot's famous Encyclopedie was initially a modest translation of Chambers's Cyclopaedia. It grew as a project into a massive project which attempted to collect human knowledge from a rationalistic perspective instead of by nature or theology. In organizing knowledge from a position where human reason was paramount the supremacy of the Church was imperiled. As a result the Encyclopedie was widely controversial and placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum by the Catholic Church. In discussing fundamental philosophical issues such as on political authority and natural rights articles in the Encyclopedie shifted the basis of governmental authority from the divine right of Kings to radical concepts popular consent was the basis of legitimacy and the ideals of a social contract. The work was banned by the King of France. It spread the foundational ideas of the French Revolution and enlightenment thinkers. "No encyclopaedia perhaps has been of such political importance or has occupied so conspicuous a place in the civil and literary history of its century. It sought not only to give information but to guide opinion." "It was a war machine; as it progressed its attacks on both the church and still more on despotic government as well as Christianity itself became bolder and more undistinguished and it was met with persecution and opposition unparalleled in the the history of encyclopedias." - Encyclopedia Britannica 11th ed p. 1483. Geneva: Pellet, 1777-79; Neuchatel: La Societe Typographique hardcover
173360085London C. Davis and A. Lyon 1733. 8vo. Lovely contemporary full Cambridge-style binding with five raised bands to spine and blindstamped ornamental borders to boards. . Double gilt line-borders to boards. All edges of boards with gilt borders. Gilt title to spine. Hinges neatly and professionally re-inforced. Internally very nice clean and fresh. A lovely crisp and large copy with good margins printed on heavy fine paper. 16 -including preface contents advertisements 253 1 18 -Index pp. <br/><br/><em>The important actual first edition of this highly celebrated key work of the Enlightenment in which the anecdote of how Newton discovered gravity the story about Newton and the falling apple appeared for the first time together with the description of the difference between the physical world view of the English and the French the "plenum" and the "vacuum". This seminal work in which Voltaire famously depicts British philosophy science society and culture in comparison to French can be viewed as the Enlightenment equivalent to Tocqueville's "Democracy in America". This series of essays which is based on Voltaire's experiences when living in England was actually written by Voltaire mostly in English which he mastered to perfection. It has often been presumed that the first edition of the work was that published in French in 1734 but actually the present English edition constitutes the actual first appearance of the work as well as the version that is closest to Voltaire's intention as the French language version is the re-written one and the English version the original. Curiously almost all modern English versions are translations into English of the French edition instead of the original English version making this edition of the utmost importance.After the original English edition of 1733 two French editions soon followed the first in 1734. Unlike the British the French resented the book and already in 1734 the French Parliament issued an order for the author's arrest and condemned the work causing the impact of it in France to be delayed. The book was burned for being "dangerous to religion and civil order". At the same time the work became a bestseller in Britain and as much as 14 editions of the work were published in the eighteenth century. "Inspired by Voltaire's two-year stay in England 1726-8 this is one of the key works of the Enlightenment. Exactly contemporary with Gulliver's Travels and The Beggar's Opera Voltaire's controversial pronouncements on politics philosophy religion and literature have placed the Letters among the great Augustan satires. Voltaire wrote most of the book in English in which he was fluent and witty and it fast became a bestseller in Britain. He re-wrote it in French as the Lettres philosophiques and current editions in English translate his French." Nicholas Cronk Introduction to the Oxford's Classics edition from 1999.The great French philosopher Voltaire was greatly impressed by the philosophical and scientific achievements of the English especially those of Newton Locke and Bacon. As a disseminator of scientific knowledge Voltaire came to play a great rôle in the popularization of Newtonian science and its discoveries the present work being a prime example. Although the work was condemned by the French authorities it still came to play a great rôle in the spreading of Newtonian ideas in France. The present work generally came to play a dominant rôle in Enlightenment accounts of the history of science and philosophy. The work focuses on British science and thought and uses the accounts of these to emphasize what is lacking in French society and French thought. The work is generally very critical towards the French "ancient régime" and when Voltaire here discusses the emergence of empiricism it is viewed as an English tradition that stands in opposition to the French rationalist tradition with Descartes as the prime example. This view is taken over by the following Enlightenment historians of science and philosophy e.g. d'Alembert see for instance his "Preliminary Discourse" of 1751. Some of the most influential passages of the work are probably those on Bacon who Voltaire sees as the founder of modern experimental science Newton and Descartes. Letters XIV on Descartes and Newton XV on attraction and XVI on Newton's Optics from 1704 are among the most influential essays of the work. In XVI Voltaire reflects upon Newton's "Optics" and the way that he rejected Descartes' theory and set out his own account of the properties of light. In XV he presents the first account of Newton and the falling apple: "As he was walking one Day in his Garden and saw some Fruits fall from a Tree he fell into profound Meditation on that Gravity the Cause of which had so long been sought but in vain by all the Philosophers whilst the Vulgar think there is nothing mysterious in it. He said to himself that from what height soever in our Hemisphere those Bodies might descend their Fall wou'd certainly be in the Progression discover'd by Galileo; and the Spaces they run thro' would be as the Square of the Times. Why may not this Power which causes heavy Bodies to descend and is the fame without any sensible Diminution at the remotest Distance from the Center of the Earth or on the Summits of the highest Mountains; Why said Sir Isaac may not this Power extend as high as the Moon." pp. 127-28.But perhaps the most famous passage in the volume is the opening of Letter XIV: "A Frenchman who arrives in London will find Philosophy like every Thing else very much chang'd there. He had left the World a "plenum" and he now finds it a "vacuum". At Paris the Universe is seen compos'd of Vortices of subtile Matter; but nothing like it is seen in London. In France 'tis the Pressure of the Moon that causes the Tides; but in England 'tis the Sea that gravitates towards the Moon; so that when you think that the Moon should make it Flood with us those Gentlemen fancy it should be Ebb which very unluckily cannot be prov'd." pp. 109-10. </em> hardcover
1761186427London: Printed for J. Newbery R. Baldwin W. Johnston; Printed for S. Crowder T. Longman J. Wilkie; Printed for G. Kearsley; Printed for J. and H. L. Hunt 1761-1824. His oeuvre in English for the first time First collected edition of Voltaire's works in English. This first collection did not include two works but this handsome set makes up the omission. It includes uniformly bound copies of the first English translation of The Age of Louis XV and the second English edition of Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary. In the early 1750s editions and translations of Voltaire's works multiplied rapidly. Following his earlier surge of fame in the late 1730s driven largely by his plays and his Life of Charles XII publishers eventually produced a full English edition of his writings. This thirty six volume collection was issued between 1762 and 1765 under the direction of Tobias Smollett. Lowndes however notes that Smollett lent his name to the project but took little active part in its translation. A final volume appeared in 1770 although in this set it is represented by a later edition dated 1781. 44 vols duodecimo 170 x 109 mm. Engraved frontispieces with tissue guards to 32 vols. 2 folding plates to vol. 26 folding map to vol. 29. Late 19th-century mottled half calf twin red morocco labels compartments elaborately tooled in gilt marbled sides edges yellow. Bookplates of Sir Walter Runciman 1847-1937 occasional minor contemporary inscriptions. Bindings bright sporadic foxing pale damp-staining to a couple of volumes a few chips and short closed tears to fore edges. A very good set. Lowndes 2791. unknown
177844246Philadelphia: Printed by Robert Bell 1778. 1778. First U. S. edition. Translated from the French with notes historical and critical by T. Smollett M. D. and T. Francklin A. M. Story contained in MISCELLANIES by Voltaire. The first book on the Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone list and excessively rare—the only copy we have ever seen and it does not seem that any copies have sold at auction for more than twenty five years. Considered to be the "Great Grandfather of the Detective Story." Foxing and staining throughout. A good copy only of this seminal work bound in a full-leather contemporary binding. Housed in a cloth clamshell case with leather label on the spine and titles stamped in gold gilt. Printed by Robert Bell, 1778. hardcover
179531846Paris Didot Jeune 1795 2 volumes in-4, maroquin rouge, encadrement de trois filets dors sur les plats, dos nerfs orns petits fers pousss or, roulette dore sur les coupes; encadrements intrieurs orns d'une roulette or, doublures et gardes de soie moire bleue, tranches dores (Canape).Edition orne d'un portrait de Jeanne d'Arc dessin par Gaucher et de 21 figures dessines par Lebarbier, Marillier, Monnet, Monsiau, le tout grav par Baquoy, Choffard, Delignon, Delvaux, Duhamel, Duprel, Lemire, Linge, Malbeste, Patas, Pauquet, Ponce et Romanet. Exemplaire enrichi de 48 eaux-fortes: les 21 des figures en deux tats (eaux-fortes pures et tat avant la lettre) de La Pucelle excutes par Moreau pour les oeuvres de Voltaire (Paris, 1819-1825), un portrait-frontispice de Voltaire dessin et grav par Walker, un portrait de Charles VII grav par Prvost d'aprs Cochin, 3 portraits en couleurs (Charles VII, Jean d'Orlans, Jeanne d'Arc) dessins et gravs par Sergent et un portrait de Jeanne d'Arc dessin et grav par Delvaux. Les eaux-fortes pures de Moreau sont toute marge, les preuves avant la lettre ont t remontes. Exemplaire portant sur la page de titre une note la plume autographe signe trs estompe: Reu en prsent de mon ami Hermann d'Uslar, docteur en mdecine, avant son dpart pour le Mexique en 1854. Hellissar. De la bibliothque Robert de Billy (ex-libris).
178943823Reliure d'époque plein maroquin rouge. Dos orné de doubles nerfs dorés et mosaïqués de maroquin vert, caissons d'entrenerfs dorés de caissons dorés aux filets courbes. Plats composés de trois encadrements mosaïqués de maroquin vert et havane lobé dans les angles et les milieux, ornés aux petits fers. Quintuple encadrement mosaïqué de maroquin rouge, vert et havane doré. Doublure et gardes de soie bleue ornée de roulettes dorées. Toutes tranches dorées. Grandes marges. Reliure signée BRADEL Le Jeune (avec son étiquette à l'adresse de laRue d'Ecosse, N°. 1 quartier Ste. Geneviève A Paris). Habiles restaurations sur les coiffes et les coins.
177081957Chez La veuve Duchesne Saillant Desaint | à Paris 1770 | 11.80 x 18.50 cm | 2 volumes reliés
1789129448à Paris, chez Deterville, Libraire 1789 72 volumes. In-8 22 x 13,5 cm. Reliures de l’époque veau fauve marbré, dos lisses ornés de petits fers encadrés de roulettes dorées, pièces de titre et de tomaison maroquin grenat et vert, plats encadrés de roulette dorée, environ 450 pp. par volume, illustrations de Moreau le Jeune, comprenant 93 figures hors texte interprétées par Baquoy, Delaunay, Guttenberg, Lemire, Masquelier, Tardieu et d'autres graveurs d'après Moreau, 17 portraits hors texte, dont celui de Voltaire d'après Largillière sert de frontispice au premier volume. On a en outre ajouté au vol. I, le titre gravé des Estampes destinées à orner les éditions de M. de Voltaire réalisé pour le compte de Moreau et 1 tableau replié des œuvres de Voltaire contenues dans cette édition. Bon ensemble, bien complet des deux volumes de table, établis par Chantreau et publiés en 1801.
178439990Kehl, De l'Imprimerie de la Société littéraire-typographique, 1784-1789. 70 volumes in-8, demi-veau vert, dos lisses très ornés de fleurons, palmes et palettes, pièces de titre et de tomaison en maroquin rouge (reliure de l'époque).
1767140947325London: Printed for J. Almon 1767. First Edition. Near Fine. First English-language edition of Cesare Bonesana di Beccaria's treatise on criminal justice reform with an added commentary by Voltaire. xii 179 lxxix pp. Bound in full contemporary mottled calf laced in boards. Morocco title label gilt tooling to spine and board edges all edges speckled red. Near Fine with light wear to covers boards slightly splayed joints worn but sound. Light toning and scattered foxing throughout more pronounced in first and last few pages. Discoloration from binder's glue to endpapers author's name penciled to front pastedown math equation penciled to back pastedown. A beautiful copy of the influential Enlightenment classic from the collection of scholar and bibliophile Arnold Meadowcroft Muirhead with his bookplate on the front pastedown. Rare. Printed for J. Almon unknown
