J B Freval (4 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Poor. Hardcover. Volume two only. Marbled paper over boards with tan cloth on spine. About two inches of board is missing from upper corner of front cover. Corners otherwise are quite bumped, revealing boards beneath. Front hinge is splitting, but binding is holding securely for now. Title page dated 1740 in Roman numerals. 312 pages, with index. Light tidelines and some wrinkling to pages throughout -- not so much to affect the clarity of the text, but certainly noticeable. Previous owner's bookplate on front attached endpaper, as well as blue rubber library stamps to first few pages. Translated into English from the original French. A scarce English edition in any condition, Pluche's "History of the Heavens" was a slightly more controversial publication than his more famous "Spectacle de la nature", but nonetheless an interesting and valuable work of historical philosophy. Please email with any questions or to request a few photos.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 2 vols, 2nd edn, for J Osborn etc, London, 1741. 8vo, xii, 288p, 8p index; ii, 312p, 8p index, 92 p 'Revisal of the History of the Heavens'. Engraved plates. Hinges cracking but firm, one strengthened, VG in full contemporary calf, old manuscript vellum labels, bookplate of St Benedict's Abbey Library, Fort Augustus, Scotland. Philosophy and Egyptology including a discussion of Newton's Philosophy vol 2, p 189-224.

Publishers Leather Bindings. Condition: VG. First English Edition. The History of the Heavens (First English Edition, 1740) Abbé Noël-Antoine Pluche | Translated by J.B. De Freval Bibliographic Details: Title: The History of the Heavens, Considered according to the Notions of the Poets and Philosophers, Compared with the Doctrines of Moses. Publication: London: Printed for J. Osborn et al., 1740. First English Edition. Format: Two Volumes, Octavo. (8.25"x5.25") Binding: Handsome publishers calf, spines with raised bands, gilt ruling, and contrasting morocco title labels. About This Work Published during the height of the Enlightenment, Abbé Pluche's The History of the Heavens is a captivating attempt to decode the ancient cosmos. At a time when European intellectuals were grappling with the profound implications of Sir Isaac Newton's astronomical breakthroughs, Pluche sought to reconcile the new, rational understanding of the universe with the deep history of human mythology and scriptural tradition. For the modern collector of early science, cosmology, or antiquarian esoterica, this work serves as a fascinating bridge between the mystical and the mathematical. It makes an outstanding companion piece in any library that houses 18th-century scientific treatises. Key Themes: The Origins of Astrology and the Zodiac: Pluche presents a highly original and engaging theory regarding the origins of paganism and astrology. He argues that the signs of the Zodiac and the pantheon of Egyptian gods (such as Osiris, Isis, and Horus) were not originally objects of religious worship. Rather, they were a grand, practical astronomical cipher-a celestial calendar used by early agricultural societies to track the seasons, floods, and harvests, which was later misunderstood by the Greeks and Romans as literal deities. Cosmology and the Newtonian Era: While the 18th century was dominated by the mathematical frameworks of Newton and the mechanics of the solar system, Pluche's work tackles the philosophical and historical origins of how humanity looked at the stars. He traces the evolution of cosmological thought from ancient Egypt and Moses through the Greek philosophers, offering a comprehensive look at how our understanding of the heavens evolved before the scientific revolution. This two-volume set is illustrated with 2 frontispieces and 23 full page copper engravings. The plates are highly collectible in their own right, featuring intricate depictions of Egyptian deities, astrological symbols, zodiacal figures, and mythological iconography. These visuals serve as the physical evidence for Pluche's arguments, making the ancient "language" of the stars visible to the reader. Some small loss to head of spines. Internally bright and clean, without marks and very little foxing. A scarce title, especially scarce in its original binding and in this condition. .

x, 2pp approbation and errata,288pp, 8pp index, 23 plates printed separately (from the French edition) and glued in. 20x14, calf, five bands, glt lettering and decoration. Covers a bit rubbed and marked, binding secure and contents very good. Pluche was a 18th century French priest best known for his Spectacle de la Nature, a hugely popular work on natural history. The History of the Heavens explored many different esoteric myths and stories, tending to reject any scientific theory that might run counter to Mosaic cosmology.