DUHEM, Pierre [Pierre Maurice Marie]

Le Système du Monde: Histoire des Doctrines Cosmologiques de Platon a Copernic [10 vols, complete]

Paris: Hermann, [1954-59]. Mixed editions (see note below). Ten large octavo volumes; original printed wrappers, as issued. Occasional wear; v.4 with abrasions to spine ends and rear wrapper, not affecting text; generally a complete, clean, Near Fine set. Text entirely in French.

Publication of Duhem's massive history of cosmology from Hellenic to late Medieval times was begun prior to his death in 1916 and continued, under the direction of the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, through 1959. The parts were republished in at least two editions, and later editions were reprinted at least through the 1970s. Of our set, it appears that Parts VII-X are from the first edition, printed between 1954-9; Parts II-VI are from the Second Edition ("Nouvelle Tirage"), dated 1954-8; Part I is a clearly later (ca 1970s?) reissue, photomechanically reprinted from the Second edition. In all, a quite attractive set of Duhem's magnum opus, which "revolutionized... the study of medieval physics...Duhem's studies remain the indisputable starting point for the study of medieval natural philosophy" (DSB, IV:228).

Price: $750.00

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