DEPARCIEUX, ESSAI SUR LES PROBABILITÉS DE LA DURÉE DE LA VIE HUMAINE, PARIS, 1746, CONTEMPORARY CALF, ROCHEFOUCAULD COPY

FIRST EDITION, 4to (256 x 195mm.), half-title, privilege leaf at end, contemporary calf with gilt La Rochefoucauld arms on sides [Olivier 710, fer 2], upper joint split (lower one partly so), head of spine chipped

Francois-Alexandre-Frédéric de La Rochefoucauld (1747-1827), with arms on covers and Bibliothèque de Liancourt bookplate; Librairie Chamonal (Paris), Catalogue (1994), item 62, FF15,000; bought from Pickering & Chatto, London, 1994

Tomash & Williams D41

the condition of this lot is as described in the catalogue description
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

“The first French work in the actuarial field… After publication of this ‘Essai’, expectation of life came into general use as a descriptive statistic. Deparcieux scaled his mortality data to a radix of 1000 at age 3, calculated the survivors at every five years and interpolated the intermediate values… [His table] was espoused by the French life insurance companies and used almost until the end of the nineteenth century for premium calculations where payments were made on survival.” (History of Actuarial Science, ed. Steven Haberman & Trevor Sibbett, London 1995, p.243).