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

Paris, Panckoucke, 1787-1791. Three volumes in six. 4to (27.2 x 21.8 cm). Three titles to the Encyclopédie, three titles with wood-engraved vignette, to the Théologie volumes; 2383 pp. [viii, 736; 780; 859]. Uniform original boards. Spines with printed label. = A rare part of the Ultimate Encyclopaedia and the largest of all great Encyclopaedias and the most important work published during the French Enlightement. 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 publixation 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. Some wear to the boards, with the labels partly abraded. Minimal worming to the first few leaves of the first volume; otherwise, an excellent, clean, and unmarked set. Schmitt, S. (2018) Inventaire des livraisons, des auteurs et du contenu de l’Encyclopédie méthodique (1782-1832).