[FIRST EDITION] Marcus Tullius Cicero; Petrus Lescaloperius - M. T. Ciceronis De Natura Deorum [Aristoteles, Paganism] - 1660

DESCRIPTION: I present for auction an absolute masterpiece of classical philosophy and Baroque exegesis: the monumental "Humanitas Theologica" by the Jesuit Pierre L'Escalopier, centered on the celebrated treatise "De Natura Deorum" by Marcus Tullius Cicero.

Printed in Paris in 1660 (M. DC. LX.) by the renowned royal printers Sébastien and Gabriel Cramoisy, this superb large-folio volume constitutes the first and only historical edition of the work, a jewel of European printing that was never reprinted.

A UNIQUE AND EXCLUSIVE EDITION:

This work stands out for its extraordinary commercial and bibliographical features:

+ Absolute First Edition (Editio Princeps): As the first and only edition of this ambitious exegetical and theological compendium, it is an exceedingly elusive and sought-after piece among collectors.

+ Extreme Rarity and Availability: This is a bibliographically scarce item, currently the only copy available for sale on the entire international market.

+ The Royal Printing House Imprint (Cramoisy): Produced on the presses of the official printers to the King of France, it stands out for its quality and beautiful typography.

The Royal Printing House (or Imprimerie Royale) of Paris was the French Crown's official printing office, founded in 1640 by King Louis XIII under the strong influence of his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu.

Sébastien Cramoisy (1585–1669) was one of the most distinguished figures in the history of the book in France and had the honor of being appointed the first director of the "Royal Printing House" in the very year it was founded.

The Louvre as its home: The Royal Printing House's workshop was physically installed inside the Louvre Palace to ensure direct supervision and the exclusive publication of royal edicts, major liturgical works, and classical texts authorized by the State.

CONTENTS AND SECTIONS OF THE WORK: PAGAN THEOLOGY AND THE THOUGHT OF ARISTOTLE

The work brings together the complete text of Cicero's De Natura Deorum ("On the Nature of the Gods"), complemented by a thorough doctrinal analysis structured around its key sections:

+ Book I — The Critique of Epicurean Theology: Cicero examines the doctrines of the Greco-Roman philosophical schools, focusing on the Epicurean view of gods who are removed from and indifferent to the care of the world, while unpacking the limits of official religion and ancient skepticism.

+ Book II — Stoic Theology and Divine Providence: The volume's most celebrated section. It presents the Stoic conception of the universe as an organism endowed with reason and supreme intelligence, defending the existence of Providence (Pronoia), cosmic harmony, and the deity as the ordering principle of the world.

+ Book III — Academic Skepticism and the Mysteries of the Pantheon: A critical dialogue from the perspective of the Academy (personified by Cotta), in which the contradictions of traditional myths, Roman superstitions, and the problem of divine justice are debated.

+ The Appendix on Aristotelian Theology (Aristotelis Theologica): A fascinating section in which L'Escalopier compiles and examines the metaphysical foundations of Aristotle's theology. It discusses the demonstration of the Unmoved First Mover (pure actuality), divine perfection and self-sufficiency (noesis noeseos), and how the great pagan thinkers intuited universal truths about creation and cosmic order that anticipated Christian theology.

+ L'Escalopier's Theological Commentary (Humanitas Theologica): The Jesuit author provides a monumental exegesis demonstrating how Cicero's pagan philosophy anticipated key concepts of monotheism, serving as a bridge between ancient wisdom and seventeenth-century Christian theology.

YEAR OF PUBLICATION: Paris (France), 1660. FIRST AND ONLY EDITION

LANGUAGE: Latin (Original Version)

SIZE AND PAGINATION: Dimensions: 38 x 24 cm. Pagination: Title page + [26] + 738 + [16] pp. COMPLETE WORK.

CONDITION: Half-leather binding with leather corners, in very good condition, as shown in the photos. Flat spine with two labels. The interior is in generally good condition, as shown in the photos.

FIRST AND ONLY EDITION OF THIS BEAUTIFUL WORK FROM THE ROYAL PRINTING HOUSE. DON'T MISS OUT.

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