Pierre Bayle (1647–1706) – Historical And Critical Dictionary – Fourth Edition – Amsterdam

Pierre Bayle (1647–1706) – Historical and Critical Dictionary – Fourth Edition – Amsterdam & Leiden, 1730 – 4 folio volumes in period bindings

Pierre Bayle (1647–1706)
Historical and Critical Dictionary
Fourth edition, revised, corrected, and expanded.
Amsterdam & Leiden, 1730.
Complete set of four folio volumes, preserved in their period bindings of full brown calfskin, spines richly decorated with gilt metal tools, original title labels.

First published at the end of the 17th century, Pierre Bayle’s Historical and Critical Dictionary is one of the seminal works of modern thought. A true monument of European scholarship, it exerted a considerable influence on the philosophers of the Enlightenment, notably Voltaire, Diderot, and d’Alembert, and heralded the encyclopedic spirit of the 18th century.

This copy is from the fourth edition of 1730, revised, corrected, and expanded by Pierre Des Maizeaux, printed in Amsterdam and Leiden by several major Dutch booksellers. This four-volume folio edition is considered one of the standard editions of the work.

Each volume is preserved in its original 18th-century binding, adorned with elegant gilt decoration on the ribbed spines. The title pages, printed in red and black, are present, as are the engraved frontispieces.

Beyond its historical significance, this set captivates with the quality of its presentation and its authenticity. An exceptional testament to the bibliophilia of the Age of Enlightenment, it will naturally find its place in a library dedicated to history, philosophy, or the great foundational texts of European culture.

A high-quality collection, sought after by both bibliophiles and collectors of rare books.