De l'Esprit

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 title-label, gilt compartments and fleurons. All edges red. Some rubbing and corners slightly bumped. Contemporary gift inscription on the half-title and title page.
As soon as it appeared, the book suffered a prohibition by the Sorbonne and was placed on the Index for its subversive and heretical ideas (the book was even burned before the public in 1759). The reworking of the text by the author changed nothing, the book was originally dedicated to the king, who rejected the dedication. The authorities were particularly outraged by the social and political ideas contained in the work. The encyclopedists were not mistaken for whom the work was the bible of rationalism (even though its purpose was rejected by Diderot). Helvetius proposed only to examine the human mind as an object of knowledge, but under a materialist postulate, since he affirms that all human faculties can be reduced to physical sensations. Helvetius (1715-1771) was a Farmer General, becoming rich, he knew how to be very generous and was a patron to philosophers and writers.