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DIDEROT (Denis) - ALEMBERT (D').
See original version (French)
DIDEROT (Denis) - ALEMBERT (D').
See original version (French)
Lot no. 38
DIDEROT (Denis) - ALEMBERT (D').
Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, par une société de gens de lettres. New edition.
Geneva: Pellet, 1777-1779 [Volumes 1 to 6, 8, 10, 17, 18, 22, 25, 31 to 34, volumes 2 and 3 of the plates]; Geneva: Jean-Léonard Pellet; Neufchâtel: Société typographique, 1778-1779 [volumes 7, 9, 11 to 16, 19 to 21, 23, 24, 26 to 30, 35, 36]; Neufchâtel: Société typographique, 1779 [Volume 1 of plates]; Lyon: Amable Leroy, 1780-1781 [Table]. - 45 volumes in-4, marbled basane, spine ribbed and decorated, red edges (contemporary binding).
Adams, Bibliographie des œuvres de Denis Diderot, I, G6 and G7.
New edition of the famous Encyclopédie by Diderot and d'Alembert.
This copy is a mixture of the two Geneva in-4 editions, designated respectively as the "New Edition" and the "Third Edition". Such a combination, which was common at the time, can be explained by Pellet's publishing practices, as Adams (G6) points out: "In order to meet the demands of his clientele, Pellet was able to produce two different editions. To meet the demands of his customers, Pellet, who had launched his "new edition" in November 1777, began work on a "third edition" in January 1778 in collaboration with the Société typographique de Neuchâtel. The two editions, far from competing with each other, seem to have quickly made common cause, as almost all the copies we can find today, in uniform bindings that are strictly contemporary, are made up of volumes from both editions. Apart from the title pages, there are no significant differences between the two series. In fact, they were printed, at least in part, on the same presses, which explains their close relationship.
This copy, in a uniform binding, consists of 18 volumes from the Pellet edition and 21 volumes from the Genève et Neuchâtel edition. A rare addition is the 6 volumes of the Table analytique et raisonnée des matières contenues dans les XXXIX volumes in-quarto du dictionnaire des sciences, des arts et des métiers, published in Lyon by Amable Leroy in 1780 and 1781. These 6 volumes are bound in the same style as the Encyclopédie.
The text volumes include a portrait of Diderot and d'Alembert, engraved by Cathelin after Cochin, as well as 9 of the 10 planned fold-out tables, distributed as follows:
Volume 1: Figurative system of human knowledge, Table of the Adriatic Sea, Dimensions of field guns, General division of Africa
Volume 2: General division of America
Volume 7: État des biens affermés distingués par nature et quotité (State of leased property distinguished by type and amount)
Volume 13: General division of Europe
Volume 19: Table of ancient itinerary measures
Volume 26: Table of the ratio of weights of the principal places in Europe.
The table in volume 3 is missing.
The three volumes of plates contain 435 plates, including 10 fold-out maps. The plate on Clock-making, usually placed in volume 36, appears here at the end of the third volume.
A contemporary manuscript leaf listing the authors of the articles has been added at the head of volumes 2 to 10, 16, 17, 20, 24, 28 and 31.
Volume 13 is a copy of the Pellet edition from which the false title and the original title have been removed, the latter replaced by the title with the addresses of Geneva and Neufchâtel.
A fine set, even if most of the bindings show some rubbing and spotting, some of which is significant, some worm work and missing parts, notably on several headpieces. Last leaf of the second volume doubled. Tear without missing the title of the third volume and leaf Zzzz4. Some wormholes and very rare wetness.
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