Duhamel du Monceau, Henri-Louis, and others

26 volumes, folio (418 x 275mm.), 18 volumes in contemporary cat's-paw calf, spines gilt in compartments with morocco lettering-pieces, red edges; 7 contemporary carta rustica, one section unbound and without covers, uncut, 1307 engraved plates (74 double-page, 50 folding); bookplates removed from inside covers and book stamps removed from half-titles, sold not subject to return

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"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."

an almost complete set of this most comprehensive survey of eighteenth-century industrial and mechanical arts, published under the auspices of the Académie royale des sciences. The original idea for such a work was conceived by Colbert, who in 1675 requested from the Académie detailed accounts of various mechanical arts and reports of new machines. René-Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur (1683-1757) was appointed the first editor of the project shortly after his election to the Académie in 1709, inheriting several drawings which had been prepared from 1693 onwards and an illustrated manuscript on types, printing and bookbinding. He proceeded to gather together contributions from the best scientific and practical minds. There were some thirty contributors, the most important of whom was Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau who, after Réaumur's death in 1757, became responsible for preparing the work for publication. Other important contributors included: Jérôme Le Français de Lalande (1732-1807); François Alexandre Pierre de Garsault (1691-1778); Jeanne-Marie Roland de la Platière (1734-1793); Auguste-Denis Fougeroux de Bondaroy (1732-1789); and Charles-René Fourcroy de Ramecourt (1715-1791).

The subjects covered include mining and metallurgy, the manufacture of textiles, porcelain, pottery, tanning, sugar-refining, turning, metal-working, carpentry and cabinet-making, clothing, fishing, ship-building, cutlery and surgical-instrument making, paper-making, bookbinding and organ-building. Each section, some in several parts, contains text and engraved plates showing illustrations of the process together with details of tools, apparatus, materials and methods.

The work was published more or less simultaneously with Diderot and d'Alembert's Encyclopédie (see lot 119), many of whose articles and plates were inspired by the Description.

The contents are as follows:

Amidon (Fabrique de l’): 1 plate
Ancres, no date: 6 plates
Bourrelier et sellier: 15 plates
Brodeur: 10 plates
Cartier: 5 plates
Cartonnier: 1 plate
Chamoiseur: 4 plates
Chandelier: 3 plates
Chapeaux (Art de faire des): 6 plates
Charbonier: 1 plate
Charbon de terre: 70 plates (3 dp)
Chaufournier: 15 plates
Cirier: 8 plates
Colles (Art de faire différentes sortes de): 3 plates
Cordonnier: 5 plates
Corroyeur: 2 plates
Coutelier: 172 plates (2 dp, 12 folding)
Coutelier en ouvrages communs, 1772: 7 plates
Couvreur, 1766: 4 plates
Criblier: 2 plates
Cuirs (Art de travailler) dorés ou argents: 2 plates
Cuivre (Art de converter) rouge… en… cuivre jaune: 18 plates on 12 sheets
Distillateur d’eaux-fortes: 12 plates (2 folding)
Distillateur liquoriste: 16 plates (3 folding)
Draperie: 15 plates
Epinglier:  7 plates
Etoffes en laines (Art de friser, ou ratiner): 5 plates
Fer en fil: 5 plates
Fer fondu: 5 plates
Forges et fourneaux à fer: 31 plates
Hongroyeur: 1 plate (2 copies)
Indigotier: 11 plates
Instruments d’astronomie: 14 plates (14 folding)
Instruments de mathématiques: 15 plates
Lingère: 4 plates
Maroquin (Art de faire le): 1 plate
Mégissier: 2 plates
Menuisier: 337 plates (37 dp, 4 folding)
Meunier, vermicelier et boulenger: 10 plates 
Microscope: 6 plates
Orgues (Art du facteur d’): 52 plates (5 dp, 14 folding)
Papier (Art de faire le): 14 plates
Parchemin: 2 plates
Paumier-raquetier: 5 plates
Peinture sur verre et de la vitrerie: 13 plates
Perruquier (Art du), contenant la façon de la barbe: 5 plates
Pesches (Traité général des): 134 plates
Pierre d’ardoise: 4 plates
Pipes à fumer le tabac: 11 plates
Plombier et fontainier:  24 plates (4dp)
Porcelaine:  engraved frontispiece and 8 plates (3dp)
Potier de terre: 17 plates
Raffiner le sucre: 10 plates
Relieur doreur de livres: 16 plates
Serrurier: 43 plates
Tailleur: 16 plates
Tanneur: 3 plates
Tapis (Art de faire les), façon de Turquie: 4 plates
Teinture en soie: 6 plates
Tonnelier: 6 plates
Tourneur mécanicien: 45 plates (1 folding)
Tuilier et briquetier: 10 plates

The work was also published in a quarto edition, considerably less complete than the present edition, between 1771 and 1783.