Opera omnia, nunc primum collecta, in classes distributa, praefationibus & indicibus exornata, studio L. Dutens de LEIBNIZ, Gottfried Wilhelm - 1768

Geneva: de Tournes, 1768. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. 1st Edition. Hardcover. 6 volumes. 4to (245 x 201 mm). Each volume with general title and index bound at the end; each part with separate title-page and pagination. Woodcut head- and tailpieces, author's portrait by Pierre Savart, 2 folding letterpress tables, woodcut text illustrations and diagrams, and a total 41 copper-engraved plates (several folding). Bound c. 1830 for Esquirol in uniform half-calf over marbled boards, spines with gilt lettering and decoration, marbled edges, marbled endpapers (light rubbing of extremities and leather over spines). Light uneven browning and very minor occasional spotting of text and plates, vol. IV with light waterstaining to a few pages. Provenance: Esquirol library, Maison de Charenton (ink stamps to flyleaves, title of vol. I and a few text pages). A fine, virtually unread set; exceptionally crisp, clean and wide-margined. Vol. I: [2], iv, [2], ccxliv, 790 pp. including half-title, frontispiece portrait of the author separated from title by tissue paper. Vol. II: [2], viii, 400, 291 [1] pp., 14 engraved plates (12 folding), woodcut text illustrations and diagrams. Minor browning of plates. Vol. III: [4], viii, lv [1], 663 [1] pp., woodcut diagrams, folding letterpress table facing p.375 and 25 engraved plates. Plates a bit browned and spotted, minor spotting of text, leaf Xx2 with clean tear at upper blank margin; pp. 61-64 misbound after p. 56. Vol. IV: viii, 216; 285 [1]; [2], 647 [1] pp., woodcut text diagrams, part III with engraved plate facing p. 512 and folding letterpress table facing p. 169. Light browning of text, a few leaves with light waterstaining towards lower corner. Vol. V: viii, 632 pp. Vol. VI: vi, [2], 334; 344 pp., woodcut diagram, 1 folding engraved plate facing p. 80. Bound without blank leaf Tt4 after p. 334 of part I. ----

The most important early edition of the complete works of Leibnitz. Edited by Louis Dutens, it covers a large part of the sciences and letters. Leibnitz is considered the last "universal genius" and is best known for his work in rationalist philosophy and his ontological proofs of the existence of God. His contributions to mathematics are also notable with the development of the binary system and infinitesimal calculus. "The position of Leibniz at the beginning of modern science is analogous to that of Aristotle at the beginning of ancient science" (DSB VIII, p.151). Content of the volumes: T.I Theology, T.II: Logic, Metaphysics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Natural History. T. III: Mathematics. T. IV: Philosophy, History and Antiquities, Law. T.V and VI: Philology and Linguistics.
References: Ravier 473; Faber du Faur 1544; Roller-G. II, 93; Cantor IV, 17; Zeitlinger 2531.