Principia Philosophiæ (Principles of Philosophy) [bound with] Specimina Philosophiæ: Seu Dissertatio de Methodo Recte regendæ rationis, & veritatis in scientiis investigandæ: Dioptice, et Meteora (The Proofs of Philosophy: The Discourse on the Method of Properly conducting the reason & seeking for truth in the sciences: Dioptics and Meteors).

DESCARTES, René.

Edité par Ludovicum Elzevirium, Amstelodami [Amsterdam],, 1644

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TP + [i]-[vi] = Epistola Dedicatoria + [vii]-[[xx] = Index + 1-310. First Edition. (Guibert pp. 118-119; Tchemerzine, IV, p. 297) + TP + [i]-[xiv] = Index + 1-331; Small Quarto. First Latin Edition of Descartes' First Book. (Guibert p. 104-105; Tchemerzine, IV, p. 287)The Two (Simultaneous) First Appearances of the Famous "Cogito" in PrintSIMULTANEOUSLY PUBLISHED and BOUND TOGETHERWhile the publication date of the Principia is known to be July 10, 1644 (Guibert, p. 119 et al.), the exact day of the Specimina's publication is nowhere noted in contemporary documents. However, the exhaustive scholarship of Corinna Lucia Vermeulen (René Descartes, Specimina Philosophiæ, Introduction and Critical Edition, Doctoral Dissertation, 1969. 418 pp.) argues that the printing of the Principia was interrupted to await some still unfinished woodcuts and that the Specimina was printed during that time interval (pp. 20-22). Vermeulen also notes that "it can now be established that both works were usually bound in one volume, in the complimentary copies as well as in the Elzevier's bookshop." She provides exhaustive evidence to verify the fact - while noting the books were also available individually - that they were most commonly packaged and sold in one volume. Vermeulen further states that while there is no known priority for the two books, they were originally bound with Principia appearing first - it being the long-awaited, completely new work - while the Specimina - a Latin translation of the Discours which had originally been published in 1637 in French - always appeared second. [BECAUSE OF ABE SIZE LIMITATIONS WE CANNOT PRINT HERE THE FULL TWO-PAGE DESCRIPITION OF THIS REMARKABLE BOOK HERE. PLEASE CLICK ON "ASK SELLER A QUESTION' ON THIS WEBPAGE AND REQUEST A COPY.]Bound together, these two works are sometimes referred to as the first edition of Descartes' Opera Philosophica (see Guibert p. 229). But the first true Opera, which appeared in 1650, contained these two works plus Les Passiones Animae. Subsequent editions of the Opera mixed these and other works together somewhat indiscriminately (Guibert, pp. 230-233). Contemporary vellum binding with five lines of largely unreadable hand titleing to the top of the spine. Some spotting ans soiling to the binding. The front fly leaf is a bit worn and lightly chipped on the edges with old scriptions dated 1684 and later (one from 1743 appearing on the verso). Otherwise, a really lovely copy of this monumentally important pair of book by Descartes. Housed in a grey card slip case. ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. N° de réf. du vendeur 1266

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Titre : Principia Philosophiæ (Principles of ...

Éditeur : Ludovicum Elzevirium, Amstelodami [Amsterdam],

Date d'édition : 1644

Edition : FIRST EDITION + FIRST LATIN EDITION.