DIDEROT, Denis (1713-1784) and Jean D’ALEMBERT (1717-1783), editors. Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers. Paris: Briasson, David, Le Breton, Durand, 1751 [1752]-1757 [Vols I-VII] and Neuchâtel [i.e. Paris]l: S. Faulche & Compagnie, 1765 [vols VIII-XVII]. 17 volumes. — Recueil de planches, sur les sciences, les arts libéraux, et les arts méchaniques. Vols I-XI: Paris: Briasson, David, Le Breton, Durand, 1762-1772; vol. XII Paris: Panckouke, Stoupe, Brunet, and Amsterdam: M.M. Rey, 1777. 12 volumes. — Supplément à l'Encyclopédie. Edited by Jean Baptiste René Robinet. Amsterdam: M.M. Rey, 1776-1777. 4 volumes [I-IV] — Table analytique et raisonné des matieres contenues. Edited by Pierre Mouchon. Paris: Panckoucke & Amsterdam: Marc-Michel Rey, 1780. 2 volumes [I-II].
First edition, one of the most splendid products of the Enlightenment, and one of the great landmarks of western intellectual history in a contemporary binding. 'A monument in the history of European thought; the acme of the age of reason; a prime motive force in undermining the Ancien régime and in heralding the French Revolution; a permanent source for all aspects of eighteenth-century civilization' (PMM). 'The greatest encyclopedia of science, which had widespread effect in establishing uniformity of terminology, concept, and procedure in all fields of science and technology' (Grolier/Horblit). The majority of entries were written by Diderot and D'Alembert; other collaborators included Baron d'Holbach, Rousseau, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Buffon, Marmontel, Condorcet, Necker and Turgot. The first seven volumes of the Encyclopédie were published in Paris under a royal privilege; when this was withdrawn in 1759 printing continued clandestinely, and the last ten volumes were issued under the false imprint of Samuel Faulche, Neuchâtel. Grolier/Horblit 25b; John Lough, Essays on the Encyclopédie (London 1968); PMM 200; Schwab, Rex, and Lough, Inventory of Diderot's Encyclopédie, I (1971), VII (1984) [Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth Century 80, 223].
35 volumes, folio (401 x 248mm). Uniform contemporary French tree calf, covers with narrow gilt roll-tooled border, gilt spines with red morocco labels, marbled edges and endpapers (extremities faintly rubbed).
Collation, contents and condition report available on request from the department.
DIDEROT, Denis (1713-1784) and Jean D’ALEMBERT (1717-1783), editors. Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers. Paris: Briasson, David, Le Breton, Durand, 1751 [1752]-1757 [Vols I-VII] and Neuchâtel [i.e. Paris]l: S. Faulche & Compagnie, 1765 [vols VIII-XVII]. 17 volumes. — Recueil de planches, sur les sciences, les arts libéraux, et les arts méchaniques. Vols I-XI: Paris: Briasson, David, Le Breton, Durand, 1762-1772; vol. XII Paris: Panckouke, Stoupe, Brunet, and Amsterdam: M.M. Rey, 1777. 12 volumes. — Supplément à l'Encyclopédie. Edited by Jean Baptiste René Robinet. Amsterdam: M.M. Rey, 1776-1777. 4 volumes [I-IV] — Table analytique et raisonné des matieres contenues. Edited by Pierre Mouchon. Paris: Panckoucke & Amsterdam: Marc-Michel Rey, 1780. 2 volumes [I-II].
First edition, one of the most splendid products of the Enlightenment, and one of the great landmarks of western intellectual history in a contemporary binding. 'A monument in the history of European thought; the acme of the age of reason; a prime motive force in undermining the Ancien régime and in heralding the French Revolution; a permanent source for all aspects of eighteenth-century civilization' (PMM). 'The greatest encyclopedia of science, which had widespread effect in establishing uniformity of terminology, concept, and procedure in all fields of science and technology' (Grolier/Horblit). The majority of entries were written by Diderot and D'Alembert; other collaborators included Baron d'Holbach, Rousseau, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Buffon, Marmontel, Condorcet, Necker and Turgot. The first seven volumes of the Encyclopédie were published in Paris under a royal privilege; when this was withdrawn in 1759 printing continued clandestinely, and the last ten volumes were issued under the false imprint of Samuel Faulche, Neuchâtel. Grolier/Horblit 25b; John Lough, Essays on the Encyclopédie (London 1968); PMM 200; Schwab, Rex, and Lough, Inventory of Diderot's Encyclopédie, I (1971), VII (1984) [Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth Century 80, 223].
35 volumes, folio (401 x 248mm). Uniform contemporary French tree calf, covers with narrow gilt roll-tooled border, gilt spines with red morocco labels, marbled edges and endpapers (extremities faintly rubbed).
Collation, contents and condition report available on request from the department.
![DIDEROT, Denis (1713-1784) and Jean D’ALEMBERT (1717-1783), editors. Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers. Paris: Briasson, David, Le Breton, Durand, 1751 [1752]-1757 [Vols I-VII] and Neuchâtel [i.e. Paris]l: S. Faulche & Compagnie, 1765 [vols VIII-XVII]. 17 volumes. — Recueil de planches, sur les sciences, les arts libéraux, et les arts méchaniques. Vols I-XI: Paris: Briasson, David, Le Breton, Durand, 1762-1772; vol. XII Paris: Panckouke, Stoupe, Brunet, and Amsterdam: M.M. Rey, 1777. 12 volumes. — Supplément à l'Encyclopédie. Edited by Jean Baptiste René Robinet. Amsterdam: M.M. Rey, 1776-1777. 4 volumes [I-IV] — Table analytique et raisonné des matieres contenues. Edited by Pierre Mouchon. Paris: Panckoucke & Amsterdam: Marc-Michel Rey, 1780. 2 volumes [I-II].](https://devapim.christies.com/uat/lot-images/6216677/2019/CKS/2019_CKS_17700_0253_000(diderot_denis_and_jean_dalembert_editors_encyclopedie_ou_dictionnaire122733).jpg?maxwidth=3840)