35 volumes. Comprising:
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Volumes I-VII. Paris: Briasson, David l'aîné, Le Breton & Durand, 1751-1757.
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Volumes VIII-XVII. Neuchâtel: Samuel Faulche, 1765.
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Supplément à l'encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, par une société de gens de lettres [edited by Jean Baptiste René Robinet]. Volumes I-IV Amsterdam: M. M. Rey, 1776-1777.
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Recueil de planches, sur les sciences, les arts libéraux, et les arts mécaniques, avec leur explication. Volumes I-XI. Paris: Briasson, David l'aîné, Le Breton & Durand, 1762-1772.
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Suite du recueil de planches [Volume 12]. Paris: Panckoucke, Stoupe & Brunet; Amsterdam: M. M. Rey, 1777.
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Table analytique et raisonnée des matières contenues dans les XXXIII volumes in-folio du Dictionnaire des sciences, des arts et des Métiers, et dans son supplément [edited by Pierre Mouchon]. Volumes I-II. Paris: Panckoucke; Amsterdam: M. M. Rey, 1780.
Engraved frontispiece, 2,796 engraved plates (many folding), one large engraved folding Tree of Knowledge plate in vol. 1 of the Tables, several typographical tables. Folio, 39x24 cm (15¼x9½"), period full mottled calf, spines tooled in gilt, raised bands, morocco lettering pieces in various shades, marbled endpapers, page edges stained red.
Complete set of the first editions of one of the landmark works of the Age of Reason, presenting the state of knowledge in the second half of the 18th century, and filling the role of a catalyst in undermining the ancient régime and in heralding the French Revolution. Originally conceived as a simple translation of Chambers' 1728 Cyclopedia, this work, under the guidance of various publishers and Diderot himself, soon evolved as nothing short of a landmark in scholarly endeavor. The spectacular plates present scientific and technical achievements, the state of zoological and botanical knowledge, geographic and cartographic developments, and more. Grolier/Horblitt 25b; John Lough, Essays on the Encyclopédie of Diderot and D'Alembert, 1968; Norman 1:637; PMM 200. Provenance: The Diderot set has been in the family of the present owner since it was purchased in the 18th century when it was published. The family is French nobility, though perhaps minor. The family name is Humann, which through marriage became Humann-Guilleminot. Perhaps the most distinguished member of the family was Admiral Edgar Humann-Guilleminot (1838-1914), son of Jules Humann, 1809-1857 (diplomat, minister and peer of France) and Isabelle Hortense Guilleminot (b. 1811). The Encyclopedie was owned by the Admiral, of whom the current owner is a direct descendent. The family has since dropped the Guilleminot part of the name.
Condition:
Joints dry, a few splitting, chips to spine ends, some old tears to boards; occasional scattered foxing and text browning, still in unusually nice condition, rarely found better.