Vienne (Isère)

First edition illustrated with a frontispiece and 3 fine hors-texte figures engraved in aquatint, including a view of the interior of the famous philosophers' café, the Procope in Paris. The edition of the second volume being from the following year, it often happens that one finds only the first volume.
Full marbled brown calf bindings. Smooth decorated spines. Red morocco title labels, tawny morocco volume labels. Lacks at head of volume I. 2 corners bumped. Marbled edges. The first leaves of volume I are printed on strong paper, the following on laid paper. Fine copy.
Red bookplate G.H. Manuscript ownership inscription: Tillier, this 7th November 1792.
Apocryphal memoirs. Under a novelistic form in which a German baron enamored with philosophy and in love with philosophers finds himself in Paris, critique of philosophers and in particular of d'Holbach's materialist doctrine. In reaction to the materialist philosophers, Crillon had already published L'homme moral. Through a lively narrative, placed under the auspices of common sense, the author stages the sect of philosophers by mocking them under skillful conversations, the effect is all the more effective as it appears only to the reader, the narrator being only a naive person, desperate for philosophy and philosophers, his incomprehension and dismay masking the criticism of solidarity philosophers acting according to principles (atheism, materialism) rather than through philosophy. The second volume is placed under different auspices, the narrator, prey to doubt, questions himself and monologues on all that he has heard, he meets a wise old man who will answer his interrogations on human nature, truth, etc. This work, in the mass of anti-philosophical writings is noteworthy, because it does not fall like so many others into a frontal and theoretical criticism, it stages a simple man prey to his doubts, confronted with the dogmas of materialist philosophers.

First Edition published anonymously and printed 450 numbered copies, ours unjustified.
Signed autograph of Nicolas Raiewsky to Jules Supervielle
Illustrated brochure of 2 drawings by the author.
Back and flat very slightly and marginally insolated and stained without any gravity.

first edition published anonymously and printed in 450 numbered copies, ours unjustified.
Signed autograph of Nicolas Raiewsky Jean Cassou.
illustrated pamphlet of 2 designs of the author.
spine and boards very slightly and marginally insolated without any gravity.

The two works are both second editions, but with the same date as the first, so some consider them second impressions.
Contemporary half brown sheep, vellum corners. Spine with four decorative tools and roulettes. Beige sheep title label. Head-piece worn.

First edition printed on fine paper in a very small number and established from the manuscripts of Grenoble, Montpellier & Vienna.
Front board marginally sunned, three tiny marginal lacks affecting the boards, gift inscription, handsome interior condition.

First French translation of this work originally published in German in Leipzig in 1784. In original wrappers, with decorative period wrapping paper, pages from other works have been used as endpapers. History of the revolt in Naples in 1646, by a poor fishmonger named Masaniello, who became leader of one hundred thousand men, against Spanish oppression as it was exercised at the time. The preface emphasizes the resonance of this text for us French who know similar periods. At the end of the work, Meissner has placed the articles of the new privilege granted to Naples by the Spanish crown.

Second edition, revised and enlarged by Iohanne Gottlieb Gleditsch, following the original of 1751. Illustrated with 11 line plates of plants. Only a few very rare copies contain a frontispiece portrait of Linnaeus, not present in this copy.
Contemporary half calf with corners. Spine with raised bands and gilt fillets. Black morocco title label. Three small splits at head. Rubbing to edges exposing the boards.
In this work, Carl Linnaeus continues the project of systematic classification first set out in his Systema naturae.

First edition printed in 60 copies of which 10 on Holland paper.
One facsimile as frontispiece, handsome copy.
Rare.