- 47
Holbach, Paul Henri Thiry, Baron de
Estimate
600 - 800 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Holbach, Paul Henri Thiry, Baron de
- L'antiquité dévoilée par ses usages, ou examen critique des principales opinions, cérémonies & institutions religieuses & politiques des différens peuples de la terre. Par feu M. Boulanger. Amsterdam: Marc Michel Rey, 1766
- Paper
3 volumes, 12mo (184 x 110mm.), contemporary carta rustica, uncut, slight water-damage at foot of volume 2, bindings slightly rubbed
Provenance
FF, crowned monogram printed in red on title-pages
Literature
Vercruysse, Bibliographie descriptive des écrits du Baron d'Holbach (Paris, 1971), F2
Condition
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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
Although the title-page states that this work was by Boulanger, it was completely rewritten by Holbach, a leading figure of the Enlightenment, and is one of several antireligious works that he had printed around this time; the printer, Rey, also produced some volumes of Diderot and d'Alembert's Encyclopédie, to which Holbach had been a contributor. Holbach seeks to explain astronomical symbols and gauge the effect of the Great Flood on humanity; Horace Walpole remarked that Holbach sought to convince him that "Pall Mall is paved with lava or deluge stones" (quoted in M. Curran, Atheism, Religion and Enlightenment, 2012, p. 28).
The first edition was printed in quarto in the same year, also by Rey in Amsterdam.