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an open book with a black and white title on itan old book with a brown cover sitting on top of a white surfacean old book sitting on top of a wooden table next to a white wallan old book with a black and white image of a man ' s face on itan open book with a black and white image of a man ' s face on itan old book with writing on it sitting on top of a tablean old book with a drawing of a person on itan old book with a map of the world on it
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83 - DESCARTES (René). The World of Mr Descartes, or A Treatise o…
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Estimate €400 - €500
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Description
DESCARTES (René). The World of Mr Descartes, or A Treatise on Light and Other Principal Objects of the Senses. A rare copy of the first edition with a title page in a condition not listed under the name of Jacques Le Gras. Paris, Jacques Le Gras, 1664. 3 parts in 1 volume, in-8 (167 x 110 mm). Full brown calfskin, ribbed spine, panels decorated with small filigree gilt irons, gilt roulette on the edges, red speckled edges. 8 unnumbered folios, 260, 31 and 30 pages; 5 plates and 27 vignettes. Binding generally rubbed, cap bands damaged, corners worn, scuffing to the covers, title page restored, a few pages have foxing. First posthumous edition of this treatise on light and the stars. Published by Claude Clerselier, the publisher notably of the *Meditations on First Philosophy*, nearly fifteen years after Descartes’ death, this treatise had, in fact, been written in 1632–1633. Its publication had been delayed at Descartes’ own request, as he feared that the heliocentric sympathies he expressed therein might cause him harm: Galileo had just been imprisoned. The title page of our copy does not match that presented by Tchemerzine: the printer’s mark is the same as that of the Thomas Girard edition (with six fleurons), which is supposed to adorn only the genuine first edition. Le Monde as such comprises only the first part of the work, namely the first 260 pages, followed by a treatise on local motion and another on fever. [Tchemerzine, IV, 310–311]. A fine, fairly fresh copy.
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About the sale Fine antique and collectible books, manuscripts and modern illustrated works
Auction location
Auction time 06/29/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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