LA PALINGENESIE PHILOSOPHIQUE OU IDEES SUR L'ETAT PASSE' ET SUR L'ETAT FUTUR DES ETRES VIVANS. OUVRAGE DESTINE' A SERVIR DE SUPPLEMENT AUX DERNIERS ECRITS DE L'AUTEUR, ET QUI CONTIENT PRINCIPALEMENT LE PRECIS DE SES RECHERCHES SUR LE CHRISTIANISME GENEVE

AMSTERDAM: MARC-MICHEL REY, 1769 Complete in 2 volumes bound in one in contemporary full leather binding. Charles Bonnet was born and lived in Switzerland - his profession was law but his interest was in natural science. He established the principle of 'parthenogenesis' in aphids through some early research. In this, his principle later work, he "advocates the view that the female body carries all future generations in miniature form. He believed that these so-called Homunculi would survive even the most severe catastrophes, like the Flood." (courtesy of whonamedit). This copy is a first edition. The binding, which has a red title label, raised bands outlined in gilt with gilt decorations to the spine and is full leather, is worn with splitting at the joints and wear to edges and corners. The contents are: title page; preface i-xvi; table xvii-xxiv; section 'Analyse abregee de l'essai analyticque - pp 1-58; title page -Tableau des considerations sur les corps organises; text pp 61-112; title page - Essaie d'Application des Principes Psychologiques de l'Auteur; text pp 115-156; further title page; advertissement - pp 159-162; Avant Propos pp 163-167; Idees sur l'Etat Futur des Animaux - Part I pp 168-185; Part II pp 186-196; Part III pp 197-210; Part IV - Application aux Plantes 211-225; Part V Application aux Zoophytes 226-235; Part VI 236-263; half title; title page Vol II; Part VII pp 1-47; Part VIII pp 48- 60; Part IX - Reflexions pp 61-95; Part X Nouvelles Considerations pp 96-121; Part XI Reflexions pp 121-170; Table de tome second, 2pp. The contents have decorative head and tailpieces and vignettes. They are clean and bright - the odd page has a corner turned over at the edge and the front free endpaper is detaching. There is staining to the edges of the endpapers.