Great set of astronomical and astronomy-related plates from this enormously influential work, drawn by Benard. The plates form a series of illustrations of planetary projections, astronomical instruments such as telescopes, astrolabes and even a plan for an observatory. The Encyclopédie was published under the direction of Diderot with articles written by the most prominent philosophers of the time. These great minds collaborated in the goal of assembling and disseminating the fruits of accumulated knowledge and learning. Containing 72,000 articles written by more than 140 contributors, it was a massive reference work for the arts and sciences that served to propagate Enlightened ideas. Due to problems of censorship, the first edition was issued over a period of 21 years, in an original printing of approximately 4,000 copies. This is a set of plates numbered 4-43, with the exception of plate 13.

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Condition: A

A little minor foxing, mostly confined to the margins and one plate with a marginal tear at top. Still partially bound.