Lot Details
Lot 111
DESCARTES, RENÉ Les Meditations metaphysiques, touchant la premiere philosophic dans lesquelles l'existence de Dieu, & la distinction reelle entre l'ame & le corps de l'homme, sont demonstrees.
Paris: Veuve J. Camusat et P. Le Petit, 1647. First French edition ("Traduite du latin de l'auteur par Mr le D.D.L.N.S." i.e. Louis Charles D'Albert, Duc de Lynes). Contemporary mottled calf, edges sprinkled red. 9 1/2 x 6 7/8 inches (24 x 17.5 cm); xvi, 606, [2] pp.i.e. the privilege leaf pp. Binding worn, rebacked retaining the original spine, a few minor pencil markings, minor marginal stains, toning etc., but generally a sound, well-margined copy. A few leaves with an early stamp of the Sorbonne, the armorial bookplate of a bishop (unidentified) at front and rear.
A scarce and important work, present here in the first edition in French; the original Latin edition was first published in 1641. The first two of the six meditations are seminal to the development of modern philosophy. Taken as a whole, the work is among the most influential of philosophical texts of its own, or any period. The second portion of the book is occupied by objections to Descartes's schema, by Hobbes and others, and also contains his refutations. This edition is rare at auction; the last copy we note sold in 2002. Guibert Meditations 4.
C The Julius and Theodore Cohn Library
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