Sophyle ou de la Philosophie
1778, a rare first edition of Dutch philosopher Frans Hemsterhuis's dialogue
Author
Publisher
Printing Details
First edition. Hardback, bound in full leather with gilt decorative margins to boards, and with gilt decoration and contrasting title label to spine. All edges gilt, marbled endpapers. 19 × 10.5cm, 99pp. French text.
A rare first edition of Dutch philosopher Frans Hemsterhuis's dialogue between the soul and the body exploring how human beings perceive the universe not just through cold logic, but through an intuitive organ that senses harmony, and arguing for a balance between the physical and the spiritual.
Hemsterhuis's aesthetics regarding the typography and layout of his books is evident here with the wide margin and the crisp printing.
Condition
This copy is in very good condition for age. There is rubbing and bumping to the leather, and some surface abrasion and marking. The inner binding is secure and the page s are clean. Previous bookseller's pencilled collation marks to ffep, and a previous owner has written "Hemsterhuis" to the title page as his works were published anonymously.
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