Lettre sur les aveugles
This first edition, printed clandestinely, caused a scandal and resulted in Diderot being imprisoned for three months in the Vincennes dungeon.
Precious copy bound with the arms of François Alexandre Frédéric, Duke of La Rochefoucauld Liancourt (1747-1827), representative of the nobility at the Estates-General of 1789.
12mo, 219 pp. (misnumbered 220), (1) p. binder’s note, and 6 plates outside the text.
Marbled calf, gilt armorial stamps at center of covers, spine with raised bands and gilt fleurons, red morocco title label, red edges. Contemporary armorial binding.
161 x 100 mm.
Diderot, Denis. Letter on the Blind, for the Use of Those Who See.
London, 1749.
First edition of the rare first printing of this“famous scientific and philosophical work by Diderot that caused a sensation and led its author to be sent to the dungeon of Vincennes” (Dictionnaire des Œuvres).
Tchémerzine, II, 925; Adams, II, LG1 ; Vérène de Diesbach, Bibliothèque Jean Bonna, 18th century, no. 55; In French in the Text, no. 153.
True first edition of this work, of which three other printings are known under the same date.
This one is distinguished by the presence of a blank page (p. 210) and errors in the table of contents (p. 212, line 2 "leur Methaphysique" and p. 214, line 6 "Existence continuée des êtres"). It is illustrated with 6 copper-engraved plates.
This fascinating little text was written by Diderot after the first cataract operation on a woman blind from birth by Doctor Réaumur, who had invited several philosophers to witness the “subject’s” first reactions to light.
This gave Diderot the idea of using blindness as another way of apprehending the world.
Diderot, an atheist philosopher, established the first foundations of sensualism: our senses are the basis of our ideas and beliefs.
“The Letter on the Blind marks a decisive turning point in Diderot’s thinking and that of the century” (Robert Niklaus).
Precious copy of this important original of Diderot, bound at the time in marbled calf bearing the arms of François Alexandre Frédéric, Duke of La Rochefoucauld Liancourt (1747-1827), representative of the nobility at the Estates-General of 1789.
Liberal philanthropist, maréchal de camp, he succeeded his father as Grand Master of the Royal Wardrobe (1783). The famous reply to King Louis XVI is attributed to him: “This is a great revolt! - No, Sire, it is a revolution”.
