FABRE D'OLIVET (Antoine). De l'état social de... Lot 44

FABRE D'OLIVET (Antoine). De l'état social de l'Homme; ou vues philosophiques sur l'histoire du genre humain, précédées d'une dissertation introductive sur les motifs et l'objet de cet ouvrage. Paris: J. L. J. Brière, 1822. - 2 volumes in one in-8, 202 x 129: xv, 348 pp., (2 ff.), 469 pp. Dark green half-sheepskin, smooth ornate spine, marbled edges (period binding). Caillet, 3776 - Guaita, 1362: "de la plus insigne rareté" - Dorbon, 1578 (for the second edition). First edition "of the most insignificant rarity" (Guaita) of this "remarkable work, one of the great classics of the occult which inspired Eliphas Lévi and Saint-Yves d'Alveydre in turn" (Dorbon). "Fabre d'Olivet's admirable work De l'État social de l'Homme, ou Vues philosophiques sur l'Histoire du genre humain, taken up and continued to this day by Saint-Yves, stands like an imperishable monument among the productions of the human spirit. In an introductory dissertation of 64 pp., the author sets out the metaphysical constitution of man, based entirely on the great law of the Ternary, which is found everywhere in the universe; then he defines the 3 great powers that govern this universe "Human Will, Destiny and Providence", and it is on these great principles that he bases his entire work" (Caillet). The work was republished in 1824 under the title Histoire philosophique du genre humain, ou l'Homme considéré sous ses rapports religieux et politiques dans l'état social, à toutes les époques et chez les différens peuples de la terre. Rubbing to covers, hinges and edges, corners dulled. Tear with damage to the text on one leaf of the first volume (pp. 269-270). Some rare freckling. Provenance: William Décloux of Perpignan, with bookplate.