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an old book with a brown cover sitting on top of a white surfacean old book with a picture of a bird on top of it
ALDE

208 - [HELVÉTIUS]. *De l’Esprit*. Paris, Durand, 1758.
See original version (French)

Estimate €2,000 - €3,000
Sale commission
Description
[HELVÉTIUS]. *De l’Esprit*. Paris, Durand, 1758. Quarto, long-grained brown morocco, framed with garlands, trellises and gilt friezes, fleurons at the corners, ribbed spine decorated with panels and arabesques, interior lace and fillets on the edges, gilt edges (Binding attributed to Gruel). 2 ff., XXII pp., 643 (1) pp. First edition, second printing; the first printing was released on 27 July 1758.  Condition described as ‘cartonné’, Smith E. 1B. Only four copies of the first printing are known to exist, which Helvétius gave to friends before the book was censored by Malesherbes at the start of printing. Copy in a luxurious unsigned binding; a note on a loose sheet within the volume states: ‘Unsigned binding but attributed by Devauchelle on 12 July 1984 to Léon Gruel’. David Smith. Bibliography of the Writings of Helvetius 2001, pp. 121–127 – D. Smith. Australian French Studies, VII, 3, 1970, p. 25.
See original version (French)
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About the sale Xavier de Planhol Library – The Origins of the Novel
Auction location
Auction time 09/30/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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