Abbé Raynal / Eisen - Histoire philosophique & politique des établissemens & du commerce des Européens dans les deux - 1774

Second edition of Raynal's masterpiece (1774), printed in The Hague at Gosse's address in 7 octavo volumes, published 4 years after the original (1770) and following its first condemnation in 1772.

Illustrated with 7 frontispieces by Eisen and 7 filled cards, one for each volume.
Well-printed copy on slightly bluish laid paper.

Published in 1770 in seven volumes, with the collaboration of D'Holbach and Diderot, the Philosophical History of the Two Indies achieved a meteoric success throughout Europe and America.

In this famous work written in collaboration with Diderot and d'Holbach, the author traces the history of colonies since the discovery of America and attempts to demonstrate how successive discoveries have influenced European commerce and culture.

"Since the Spirit of Laws, our literature may not have produced any monument more worthy of passing into posterity..." (cf. Grimm) / "Raynal has his rightful place among men of genius and defenders of humanity..." (cf. Jay)

"A true encyclopedia of anti-colonialism in the 18th century" falls into the category of "Philosophical Travels" and serves as a pretext for reflections on the "natural law" while simultaneously denouncing despotism, clericalism, slavery, and colonialism. The work is still described by commentators as a "war machine" against the ruling power.

Banned in 1772, the 'History of the Two Indies' was again published by abbé Raynal in a new edition in 1774, which was immediately placed on the Index by the clergy. It was in 1780 that he published his third edition (the first enlarged) of the 'History of the Two Indies' (simultaneously in 10 volumes octavo and 4 volumes quarto), even more virulent than the previous two, which he implicitly acknowledged as his own by having his portrait engraved on the frontispiece. Condemned by the Parliament of Paris, the work was burned by the executioner in public, which ensured its considerable success.

It is still today a fundamental document regarding the history of colonialism and international trade, particularly concerning their political and philosophical critique in the 18th century.

Raynal (Guillaume-François-Thomas)
Philosophical and Political History of the Establishments and Trade of Europeans in the Indies
In The Hague, at Gosse, fils, 1774
7/7 volume in - 8 (20 x 12.5 cm): XII-604, VIII-434, XII-612, VIII-416, XII-416, VIII-406, VIII-448-4 pages.

Copy in uniform bindings of the period, mottled havana calf, ornamented spine with raised bands, mosaic pieces in green morocco, floral-paneled compartments with gold tooling. Triple gold fillet framing on the covers, gilded edges.

Condition: punctured corners and wear from use on the covers and edges. Fresh interiors, small tear without loss on the margins of the cards; the card of volume 3 and the facing leaf show water stains (see photos). Very good copy in overall good condition.

Subject: Rare Second Edition of Abbé Raynal's 'Philosophical, Political, and Commercial History' 1774 / 7/7 Eisen + Maps Important Anti-Colonialism