Systeme de la nature [Ensemble] Le vrai sens du systême de la nature

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.