The first book printed with the help of a microscope
Dictionaire historique, ou, Memoires critiques et litteraires, concernant la vie et les ouvrages de divers personnages distingués, particulierement dans la republique des lettres
La Haye: chez Pierre de Hondt, 1758-59. First edition, 2 volumes in 1 volume (as usual), folio, pp. [4], 330, [6] Catalogue des Livres qui se trouvent a La Haye chez Pierre de Hondt; [4], 328, [28]; title pages printed in red and black, text in double column, engraved plate, genealogical tree of the Estienne dynasty, several engravings in the text, woodcut initials and ornaments; a very nice copy in contemporary cat's-paw calf, gilt-decorated spine in 7 compartments, red morocco label in 1. Designed as a supplement to Bayle's Dictionnaire historique. "Prosper Marchand was a bookseller and an editor, to whom the literary world is greatly indebted ... He died in 1756, and left his library and manuscripts to the University of Leyden. He wrote, among other works Le Dictionaire historique ... the original manuscript of which 'was all written on little pieces of paper of different sizes, some not bigger than one's thumb-nail, and written in a character so exceedingly small that it was not legible to the naked eye. It has been said that this is the first book printed with the help of a microscope' (Watt). It is, however, a work full of erudition although the style is characterized as not being very pure" (Bigmore & Wyman II, p. 23). The catalogue of books offered by De Hondt at the back of the first volume is an impressive 12-column affair listing approximately 200 titles in French and Latin. Item #52672
Price: $850.00
