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several old books are stacked on top of each other on a tableseveral old books stacked on top of each other on a tablea lot of old books on a shelf next to a bookan open book sitting on a table in front of a bunch of old booksseveral old books are stacked on a shelf next to each othermany books stacked on top of each other on a tablemany books stacked on top of each other on a shelfan old book with a picture of a man on itan open book that is sitting on a tabletwo books that are open on a tablean open book with drawings on it sitting on a tablethree open books sitting on a shelf next to a bookcasean open book with drawings on it sitting on a tabletwo books that are open on a shelfseveral old books stacked on top of each other on a tableseveral old books stacked on top of each other on a table
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1 - 2 - Denis Diderot, Jean Le Rond d’Alembert.
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Estimate €1,500 - €2,000
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Description
Denis Diderot, Jean Le Rond d’Alembert. Encyclopaedia or Reasoned Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts and Trades, by a Society of Men of Letters, Geneva, published by Jean-Léonard Pellet; Neuchâtel, published by the Typographical Society; Lyon, published by Amable Leroy, 1778/1781, 45 vols., quarto, 3 plates, 6 tables and 36 text plates, 442 plates (some folded), contemporary half-calf binding with ribbed spine, red sheepskin title and volume number labels. Under the direction of Diderot and d’Alembert, more than 200 known contributors took part in this undertaking, one of the most ambitious ever attempted by the French publishing industry under the Ancien Régime. Their shared aim was to present to the educated Europe of their time as clear a picture as possible of the body of knowledge acquired since the Renaissance. Some of them, the ‘philosophers’, also hoped to gradually change the prevailing ways of thinking on matters of religion and politics. In this respect, the Encyclopédie far exceeded the publishers’ original project. (In French in the text-156) Water damage and stains in Vol. II; 5 plates missing; restoration and damage to the bindings; two types of metal tools that differ very slightly.
See original version (French)
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About the sale BOOK SALE – M. P***’S LIBRARY
Auction location
Auction time 09/17/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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