DELISLE DE SALES (Jean Baptiste Claude). De la... Lot 1655

DELISLE DE SALES (Jean Baptiste Claude). De la nature, ou traité de morale pour le genre humain, tiré de la philosophie et fondé sur la nature. London, sn, 1789. 7 vol. in-8, red morocco, richly decorated smooth spines, large gilt pattern on the boards, gilt roulette on the edges, large gilt inner border, gilt edges (period binding). Fifth edition, the best and most complete of this work which forced its author into exile and whose goods were confiscated. The first edition (1766) caused a scandal because of the atheistic and nihilistic themes that Delisle professed in it, and the work was condemned to be burned. (Cohen 281.) The illustration includes 7 vignettes on the titles, 1 frontispiece and 12 hors-texte figures by Monnet. A precious copy in contemporary morocco.