Heading:
Author: Diderot, Denis & Jean Le Rond d'Alembert, editors
Title: Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, par une société de gens de lettres
Place Published: Paris, Neuchâtel, Amsterdam
Publisher:
Date Published: 1751-1780
Description:

35 volumes. Comprising:

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  Volumes I-VII. Paris: Briasson, David l'aîné, Le Breton & Durand, 1751-1757.


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  Volumes VIII-XVII. Neuchâtel: Samuel Faulche, 1765.


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  Supplément à l'encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, par une société de gens de lettres [edited by Jean Baptiste René Robinet]. Volumes I-IV Amsterdam: M. M. Rey, 1776-1777.


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  Recueil de planches, sur les sciences, les arts libéraux, et les arts mécaniques, avec leur explication. Volumes I-XI. Paris: Briasson, David l'aîné, Le Breton & Durand, 1762-1772.


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  Suite du recueil de planches [Volume 12]. Paris: Panckoucke, Stoupe & Brunet; Amsterdam: M. M. Rey, 1777.


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  Table analytique et raisonnée des matières contenues dans les XXXIII volumes in-folio du Dictionnaire des sciences, des arts et des Métiers, et dans son supplément [edited by Pierre Mouchon]. Volumes I-II. Paris: Panckoucke; Amsterdam: M. M. Rey, 1780.

Illustrated with engraved frontispiece, 2,796 engraved plates (many folding), one large engraved folding Tree of Knowledge plate in vol. 1 of the Tables, several typographical tables. (Folio) 40x25 cm (15¾x9¾"), period full mottled calf, spines tooled in gilt, raised bands, morocco lettering pieces in various shades, marbled endpapers, page edges stained red. First Editions.

Complete set of one of the landmark works of the Age of Reason, presenting the state of knowledge in the second half of the 18th century, and filling the role of a catalyst in undermining the ancient régime and in heralding the French Revolution. Originally conceived as a simple translation of Chambers' 1728 Cyclopedia, this work, under the guidance of various publishers and Diderot himself, soon evolved as nothing short of a landmark in scholarly endeavor. The spectacular plates present scientific and technical achievements, the state of zoological and botanical knowledge, geographic and cartographic developments, and more. Grolier/Horblitt 25b; John Lough, Essays on the Encyclopédie of Diderot and D'Alembert, 1968; Norman 1:637; PMM 200.

Due to the size and/or weight of this lot extra shipping and/or handling charges may apply.

Joints dry, a few splitting, chips to spine ends, some old tears to boards, some spine labels flaked or worn; some tender hinges, occasional scattered foxing and text browning; volumes over all in very good condition for their age and scarcity.