Paul Henri Dietrich HOLBACH

New edition of the French translation established by Samuel Kahen, one of 50 numbered copies on Japan paper, deluxe copy.
Handsome copy.
Work illustrated with wood engravings in head- and tailpieces by Louis Moreau.

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 and examination of the Système de la nature, the author seems to have condensed the material in the form of maxims and assertions, all resting on a strong materialist creed. We now know that the work may not be by Helvetius, although we recognize his philosophy in it. As for Mirabaud's Système de la nature, it was received like a bombshell in literary circles, and ultimately quite poorly received by the philosophers. It was not d'Holbach's openly materialist theses that were condemned but the demonstration of atheism and anticlericalism.

New edition. The original dates from 1768.
Contemporary full
Contemporary full pink paper boards binding. Smooth spine with fillets. Brown calf title-label. Rubbing to boards and headcaps.
Although the text was presented as a translation by Jean Trichard, the work is indeed by Baron d'Holbach. This history of superstition is a merciless indictment against persecutions and political and religious tyrannies of all kinds, which made terror reign through fear and fanaticism as much as through political ambition.