Denis DIDEROT et Jean d'ALEMBERT.

Encyclopedia, or Dictionary of Science, Arts and Crafts, by a society of literary people... Paris, Neufchastel,... Briasson, David, Le Breton, Durand,..., 1751-1780. 31 (out of 35) volumes in folio, marbled calf, spine with 6 nicely ornamented nerves, red edges (contemporary binding). Brunet, II-700/Rothschild, III-274. ORIGINAL EDITION of the largest literary enterprise that Brunet says the 18th century produced, and, in our opinion, the largest literary and scientific enterprise in the history of printing. The work consists of 17 volumes of text, 11 volumes of plates, 5 volumes of supplements, of which 4 volumes of text (missing here) and one of plates, and 2 volumes of tables. In total the 12 volumes of plates contain 2.795 plates, some of which are double-page and others folded, and a frontispiece with an explanatory leaflet. The book should also contain a portrait with an explanatory leaflet, which is missing here. The edition contains 2 tables: Figurative System of Human Knowledge and Table of Ancient Routes Measures and a large plate in the table, Essay of a genealogical distribution of the main sciences and arts. Science and Arts. In 1749, Diderot began the execution of this work whose primitive plan was a translation of Chambers' English Encyclopedia. The primitive plan was soon developed so that the "Dictionary of Reasoned Science, Arts and Crafts" summarized and propagated the doctrines of the independent philosophers. It took no less than Diderot's indomitable perseverance to resist the cabals directed against him by the Jesuits and a host of other powerful adversaries. D'Alembert did not have the same constancy and withdrew from the enterprise after the publication of Volume VII. (Rothschild Catalogue, III-279). The Encyclopedia had many collaborators for each specific part including d'Alembert, Blondel, Bu