Claude-Adrien HELVÉTIUS

First edition of the second issue and the first put into commerce (only 4 copies of the first issue are recorded, this having been censored from the beginning of printing by Malesherbes). Our copy indeed presents all the characteristics of the second issue according to David Smith (Bibliography of the writings of Helvétius, 2001, pp. 127-133): layout of the date and approbation on the title page (M of the date to the left of the first P of the approbation and not just below as for the first issue), misprint in the running title ("dicours" instead of "discours" pp. 67, 97, 179 and 237)...
Contemporary full brown sheep binding. Spine with five raised bands decorated with a blonde sheep...

Rare and interesting gathering of these two works. New edition of the Système de la nature after the rare first edition of 1770, and first edition of Helvetius's work at the same date of 1774 as this new edition of Mirabaud; in reality three editions appeared at the same date, with different collation, without being able to determine if there is a true first edition.
Contemporary full marbled sheep binding. Richly decorated smooth spine. Red morocco title label, and black morocco volume label. Red edges. Tail headcaps torn away. A brown stain on the upper board of volume I. Restoration using a piece of leather on the upper board of volume II. Fairly good copy.
Helvetius's work is an exegesis...