105 - DESCARTES, René. The Principles of Philosophy.

DESCARTES, René. The Principles of Philosophy. A fine edition from Rouen, translated into French by Abbé Picot and illustrated with 83 woodcut figures and diagrams within the text, well-preserved in its period binding. Rouen, Jean-Baptiste Besongne, 1698. In-12 (100 x 160 mm), full brown speckled sheepskin, spine with raised bands highlighted by a gilt rule, panels decorated with small gilt metalwork, title label in fawn leather, gilt rule on the edges, edges speckled red. [20] ff. (half-title, title page, preface, and tables of contents for Parts 1 and 2) and 144 pp., [6] ff. (title page, table of contents for Part 3) and 143–352 pp., [7] ff. (title page, table of contents for Part 4) and pp. 353–599, 83 woodcut illustrations in the text, headpieces, initials, and tailpieces. Binding slightly rubbed and discolored in places; leather missing at the bottom edge of the lower cut; slight water stain on the first 7 leaves. Rouen edition, in the French translation by Abbé Claude Picot, a close friend of Descartes, illustrated with 83 woodcuts in the text, depicting geometric figures and diagrams. The volume has continuous pagination, with the unnumbered folios of the titles and tables of contents for the third and fourth parts inserted between the main text. Handwritten bookplate on the inside back cover. A pleasant copy in a contemporary binding.