Bergier, N. S. — Encyclopédie Méthodique. Théologie. I-III. [Complete].

Paris, Panckoucke, 1787-1791. Three volumes in three. 4to (25.0 x 19.8 cm). Three titles to the Encyclopédie, three titles with wood-engraved vignette, to the Théologie volumes; 2383 pp. [viii, 736; 780; 859]. Uniform contemporary mottled half calf (corners vellum) over marbled boards. Spines with five raised, gilt-bordered bands; compartments with gilt snowflake vignettes and red and black morocco labels with double-gilt borders and title. Edges speckled red. = A rare part of the Ultimate Encyclopaedia and the largest of all great Encyclopaedias and the most important work published during the French Enlightenment. This section - complete in itself - written by the French catholic theologian "known for his engagement with the atheist philosophes of eighteenth-century France", Nicolas-Sylvestre Bergier (1718-1790), who died before publication of the last instalment. "Bergier agreed to correct certain articles of the Encyclopédie, but found himself obliged to write entirely original articles which then formed the Dictionnaire de théologie as a part of the Encyclopédie. This has been often edited, especially by Gousset in 8 vols. (Besançon, 1838) and Migne (Paris, 1850)." (Wikipedia). The second part of Volume III erroneously stated, in the lower margin of the first text leaf, to be Théologie Tome IV. Spines a bit chipped at top and bottom edges; otherwise, an excellent, clean, and unmarked set. Schmitt, S. (2018) Inventaire des livraisons, des auteurs et du contenu de l’Encyclopédie méthodique (1782-1832).