Jean de Silhon - De l'immortalité de l'âme par Silhon à monseigneur l'eminentissime cardinal duc de Richelieu - 1634

Original 17th-century edition, very rare, in quarto format with armorial binding (see photos).
A fundamental work of French apologetics, Jean de Silhon refutes materialist philosophers (Pomponazzi, Vanini, Cardan…) and develops a rational and political demonstration of the immortality of the soul. Close to Richelieu and future founding member of the Académie française, he here situates himself at the heart of the major debates opposing Christian apologists and skeptical thinkers – from Epicureans to the heirs of Pomponazzi.

A major work of 17th-century religious philosophy, it is regularly cited in studies dedicated to Pascal, Descartes, and Mersenne, and remains a reference in the history of French classical thought.

Jean de Silhon — On the Immortality of the Soul — Paris, 1634

Grand in-4° of 1056 pages — Exceptional copy in armorial binding of a noble abbé (probably from the house of Choiseul) — Handwritten provenance

Superb example in antique binding, full brown calf, with raised bands on the spine, the covers beautifully decorated with a large gilded tool bearing the arms of a noble abbot: a checkered shield under a noble crown, topped with a mitre. Likely attribution to a mitred abbot from the house of Choiseul, one of the most influential families that supplied many prelates in the 17th century.

Provenance
On the title page, an old handwritten inscription:
A gift from the Most Illustrious Lord Abbot of Zoée.
(Gift from the very illustrious Abbé de Zoée)
Provenance perfectly consistent with the coat of arms stamped on the dishes.


A fully illustrated volume, adorned with numerous banners, drop caps, and engraved initials.
Title page with the printer's mark, King's privilege, and final errata ('Errors occurred during printing').

This copy includes:
the complete grand edition
a high-quality 17th-century armory binding
a provenance of noble abbot, authenticated by a former handwritten gift
an essential text of French religious and philosophical thought

Antique leather binding, large volume measuring 23 × 17 cm, richly decorated with bands, culs-de-lampe, initials, as well as a vignette on the title page. Restored binding, red edges, the interior is sound, volume well preserved for a 17th-century work. Very beautiful copy, combining an old armorial binding, luxurious presentation, a rare book published with the approval and Privilege of the King, entirely complete (see attached photos).

The dishes are sumptuously decorated with a large gilded iron bearing the arms of a noble prelate, probably an abbot mitred from the Maison de Choiseul.
Checkered shield, topped with a crown and flanked by an episcopal miter, all enclosed within a rich baroque cartouche.


Pagination: 2ff+ 1056 pages.
Complete the photos and the description.

Very beautiful complete specimen.
Fast shipping with a tracking number.