Conseils pour former une bibliothèque peu nombreuse mais choisie

The best edition, which includes following Formey's text, the "Introduction générale à l'étude des Sciences et des Belles-Lettres en faveur des personnes qui ne savent que le français", by de La Martinière with notes by Abbé Trublet. The first edition was published in 1746.

Contemporary full marbled calf binding. Smooth spine elegantly decorated. Red morocco title label. One tear with loss to the lower joint extending into the last compartment. Worming running from p.279 to the end, in the lower margin.

Good copy, decorative and fresh.

Early bibliophilic study. In all fields (sciences, novels, morals...), Formey exercises a choice typical of 18th-century spirit. In the novel section, we thus find Don Quixote, but also Guzman d'Alfarache, Gil Blas, Marivaux, Prévost, and even Crébillon fils; each book is presented with criticism. Furthermore, Formey does not use lists but introduces each genre and each book. Formey was at the time he wrote this work secretary of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Berlin.