Recueil philosophique
ou mélange de pièces sur la religion & sur la morale. Par différents auteurs... Tome premier [- second.]
London (but Amsterdam): [Marc Michel Rey], 1770 Stock Code: 142182
First edition of this collection of philosophical essays by a number of authors, edited by Jacques André Naigeon. Of particular interest are essays nine and ten (the second and third in volume two), namely Hume's essays Of Suicide, and Of the Immortality of the Soul, here translated by Holbach.
Although originally written to form part of his "Five Dissertations", Hume suppressed these two essays before publication, replacing them with an "Essay on the standard of taste" in what was to be his Four Dissertations, published in 1757. Although unpublished, the Essays on suicide and the immortality of the soul had been set up in type and printed by Millar, and it is known that copies circulated among a small number of Hume's friends. At least one copy was in Paris, from which this French translation must have been produced, although Hume himself was unaware of it until at least 1772. An English edition of the Essays was only finally published in 1777. For a fuller account, see Mossner, chapter 24.
Description
Two volumes bound as one, duodecimo (150 x 92 mm). Contemporary mottled calf, spine ruled and decorated gilt with floral device, red and green morocco labels, triple-rule gilt border to boards, marbled endpapers, red edges, green silk ribbon marker.
Illustrations
Complete with both terminal blank leaves.
Condition
Joints rubbed with short split to front joint, corners lightly rubbed; occasional light spotting; a very good copy.
Bibliography
Barbier IV, col. 114; Jessop, p. 36; Vercruysse 1770, B2.
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