Essais Philosophiques

Paris: H. Agasse, 1797. Very Good +. Paris: H. Agasse, 1797. First French Edition. Two volumes bound in one; octavo; 19th-century calf over papier-peint boards, gilt-tooled spine; [4],316; [4],283,[1]pp. (collated complete with half titles). Small abrasions to boards somewhat clumsily repaired, else a Very Good or better, internally clean and exceptionally fresh copy.

First appearance in French of Adam Smith's posthumously collected work "Essays on Philosophical Subjects," which includes most notably his "Principles which lead and direct philosophical enquiries, illustrated by the history of astronomy." This edition, as with the first in English, preceded by a lengthy account of Smith's Life by the Scottish philosopher and mathematician Dugald Stewart.