ARGENS, Jean-Baptiste de Boyer d'. *Kabbalistic Letters*, or - Lot 15

ARGENS, Jean-Baptiste de Boyer d'. *Kabbalistic Letters*, or Philosophical, Historical, and Critical Correspondence between Two Kabbalists, Various Elemental Spirits, and Lord Astaroth. A sought-after second edition, expanded by 80 letters, of this philosophical correspondence—a major work of the Enlightenment—which denounces religious fanaticism and superstitions. The Hague, Pierre Paupie, 1741. 6 tomes in 6 in-12 volumes, each bound in brown sheepskin, spines with cold-stamped raised bands, panels with small gilt metalwork, red leather title label, cold-stamped fillet framing the covers, red edges. Leather missing from the title label of volume V and a small tear in the back cover; a small wormhole in volume VI and a stain on the back cover; the headbands are missing on volumes III and V; very rare foxing. Second edition, partly original, expanded by 80 letters—that is, two additional volumes compared to the original edition published in 1737–1738. The frontispiece features a portrait of the author after Theodor van Pee, followed by an illustration captioned “Truth lifts the veil that hides from our eyes the state after death,” along with six vignettes on the title pages, all engraved on copper by Jacobus van der Schley. A fine copy in a restored binding.