Description

THE SURGICAL PLATES FROM THE “ENCYCLOPEDIE,” French, second half 18th century, the bound volume measuring 10-3/4″ x 16-1/2″ (27 x 42 cm), comprising four pages of descriptive legends and 39 wonderful full-page plates. First is the splendid allegorical frontispiece, depicting a figure of Surgery carefully pruning a tree, while children tend to medicinal plants and perform other surgical interventions (one representing orthopedics). A stork flies overhead and all is centered on the statue of Esculapius. This is followed by quite detailed engravings of surgical instruments, some in use. This fine set is complete and in good condition. It is one section of the massive Encyclopedie ou dictionnaire raisonne de sciences des arts et des metiers by Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d’Alembert, published from 1751 to 1766, with supplements and revisions in 1772, 1777, and 1780. It embodied the ideals of the Enlightenment, aiming to provide full access to human knowledge, to destroy superstitious beliefs, “to change the way people think.” But it challenged Catholic dogma, and was officially banned in 1759, yet was permitted to continue complete publication.