Histoire philosophique et politique, des établissements,

& du commerce des Europeéns dans les deux Indes. (G.T.F. Raynal). Amsterdam, n.publ., 1770, 6 vols., finely bound in contemp. unif. marbled calf, gilt and ribbed spine w. two contrasting mor. letterpieces, all edges marbled.

Offsetting from turn-ins. Back cover of vol. 1 partly discol., spines sl. rubbed. Good set. A supplement was published in 1774 (not present here). Very rare, anonymously published first edition. Sabin erroneously (?) records a first edition published in Amsterdam in 4 volumes in the same year, of which we could not trace a copy (probably a ghost, not in PiCarta). The book deals with the East Indies, South America, the West Indies, North America and slavery. Cf. Sabin 68080: "The sentiments and criticisms contained in it prevented its publication in France (...). The book was condemned by the French parliament and church dignitaries, and Raynal was obliged to leave France." The work, for which Raynal used the advice and collaboration of contemporaries such as Diderot and Holbach, greatly influenced the French Revolution. It appeared in more than thirty editions in two decades. (total 6)