Descartes, René | Early edition of Les Principes de la philosophie

Descartes, René

Les Principes de la Philosophie. Paris: Henry le Gras and Edme Pepingué, 1651

4to (205 x 150 mm). Woodcut device on title, head- and tail-pieces, capitals, an additional engraved title page, and 20 engraved plates; generally clean with very occasional small spots, leaf 3F2 verso with an irregular stain in the lower corner, a few manuscript annotations. In contemporary mottled brown sheep, gilt double-filets to boards, spine elaborately gilt with five raised bands, all edges sprinkled red and blue; worn, with losses to spine and along the edges, joints starting, the sewing is visible in a few places along the raised bands, but the binding is sound.

The second French language edition of Principia Philosophiae, an important work that contains a comprehensive account Descartes’ metaphysics and natural philosophy. It was translated by the philosopher’s close friend Claude Picot. The Latin text was originally published in 1644, and the first French translation was published in 1647. The French editions include an additional preface disguised as a letter to the translator.