(12) pp; 5 large engraved plated. Disbound. The illustrations are excellent, large, with great detail and excellent printed. Plates without foxing or offsetting, tear in last page, not affecting the text, near the edges. A very good, clean copy, with all the plates and texts on the ancient art of making feather plumes. * Part of the massive, famous 'Encyclopédie, by Diderot et d'Alembert, being the first true encyclopaedie. The fine plates show the female artists at work, following step-by-step the way feather plumes were produced, and detailed illustrations of all the special methods and tricks of the trade, and the special tools needed. Denis Diderot (1713 – 1784) was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer, best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the Encyclopédie along with Jean le Rond d'Alembert. He was a prominent figure during the Age of Enlightenment. Jean-Baptiste le Rond d'Alembert (1717 – 1783) was a French mathematician, mechanician, physicist, philosopher, and music theorist. Until 1759 he was, together with Denis Diderot, a co-editor of the Encyclopédie. The Encyclopédie is most famous for representing the thought of the Enlightenment. It was also the first encyclopedia to include contributions from many named contributors, and it was the first general encyclopedia to describe the mechanical arts. In the first publication, seventeen folio volumes were accompanied by detailed engravings. ** This lot is part of an important collection that will be auctioned in the coming months through the Catawiki Collection Service. If you also need assistance to sell your collection at auction, ask for our terms directly at this seller's account! #bookspartnership