PLUCHE, Antoine. Histoire du ciel, où l'on recherche l'origi - Lot 253

PLUCHE, Antoine. Histoire du ciel, où l'on recherche l'origine de l'idolatrie, et les méprises de la philosophie, sur la formation des corps célestes & de toute la nature. Published in Paris by Veuve Estienne in 1740. In twelve / In-12 format (165 x 95 mm). Fawn calf, guilloche-edged spine with burgundy leather title-pieces, decorated coffers with double filleted borders and gilt small irons, cold filleted borders to the boards, gilt roulette to the edges, guilloche-edged headpieces, red edges. 1 f.n.ch., XXXVII, 1 f.n.ch. of tables and errata, 518 pages; 2 f.n.ch., 496 pages, 1 frontispiece, 24 plates by Jacques-Philippe Le Bas. Binding slightly rubbed, headband damage, missing title-piece on first volume, wormholes on first cover (t.I), rare foxing. Second edition illustrated by Jacques-Philippe le Bas, published one year after the original edition, of this critical study of ancient cosmogonies composed by Abbé Pluche. The first part of the work is devoted to a critical examination of non-Christian cosmogonies, while in the second, Abbé Pluche seeks to prove the superiority of Moses' cosmogony. According to Caillet, this is "a useful work for anyone concerned with the occult: it contains invaluable information" (Caillet, III, 8756). [Barbier, II, 775; Cohen, 809]. Fairly fresh and complete with 24 plates engraved by Jacques-Philippe Le Bas.