Encyclopédie,

the birth of the Enlightenment

The first edition of Diderot's crowning achievement.

The finest, most extensive and famous encyclopaedic work on the sciences, arts and professions of the 18th century, and arguably the most influential piece of French literature, the Encyclopedie originated with the publisher's suggestion for a translation of Chambers Cyclopaedia into French. Diderot (1713-84), however, persuaded him to undertake a new work along the same lines but greatly extended in size and scope, which would employ all the active writers of its time, all the new ideas and all the new knowledge circulating in the cultured class in France but needed further dispersal in order to be effective. The importance of this work is to be found in the contributions of over 200 philosophers, writers, scientists and jurists of the era of Enlightenment, like Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Buffon, Marmontel, Necker, Condorcet, Turgot and others. The greater part of the 71818 entries however, was written by the editors Diderot and d'Alembert (1717-1783), followed by Baron Holbach (who contributed about 400 articles). Moreover, the Encyclopedie is famous for its fine and accurate engravings.

'The purpose of an encyclopaedia is to assemble the knowledge scattered over the surface of the earth; to explain its general plan to the men with whom we live and to transmit it to the men who come after us; in order that the labours of centuries past may not be in vain during centuries to come; that our descendants, by becoming better instructed, may as a consequence be more virtuous and happier and that we may not die without having deserved well of the human race' (Diderot, quoted from the article on encyclopaedias in the present work). The Encyclopedie takes for granted the justice of religious tolerance and speculative freedom and asserts the democratic doctrine that the main concern of the nation's government should be the lot of the common people. It is also an exaltation of scientific knowledge on one hand and peaceful industry on the other. In 1759 the Encyclopedie was formally suppressed but work went on although D'Alembert withdrew, leaving Diderot to work alone. Since it had a very large number of contributors, there was no narrowly sectarian viewpoint although there was a convergence of aim. As an anthology of enlightened opinions on politics, philosophy, and religion, the Encyclopedie is one of the most important works of modern thought.

It is also remains a landmark in the history of massive publishing projects. The full set comprises 35 volumes published over almost 30 years. The first seven volumes, with articles by Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu and many other figureheads of the Enlightenment, were published in Paris under a royal privilege, which was however withdrawn in 1759, after which the project was closed down. With the help of Madam de Pompadour, among others, the remaining volumes were printed secretly with a fictitious imprint. The plate volumes have a different history, since they were not considered subversive; they were were published in Paris between 1762-72.

[A full description is available upon request].

35 volumes, including Supplements and Index; folio; engraved allegorical frontispiece after Cochin fils by Prevost, engraved plates; contemporary mottled calf, some restoration to spines, a very attractive set.

PMM 200; Palgrave I, 577; Brunet II, 700.