DESCARTES, Rene.

Opera Philosophica, Editio Secunda.

Amsterdam: Ludivicum Elzevirium, 1650. SECOND COLLECTED EDITION Half title + TP + 3 leave = Dedicatoria + 9 leaves = Epistola Authoris + 7 leaves = Index + 1-302 + TP + 7 leaves = Index + 1-316 + TP + 11 leaves = Epistolae + [1]-98 + 3 leaves = Index + TP + 4 leaves = Epistola + 1 leaf = Contenta + [1]-191 + TP + 3-164 + half title + 3-88 + end paper, small Quarto [6"w x 8"h]. OPERA PHILOSOPHICA, EDITIO SECUNDA, [comprised of] Principia Philosophiæ. (Principles of Philosophy), (1650) [bound with] Specimina Philosophiæ: seu Dissertatio de Methodo Rectè regendæ rationis, & veritatis in scientiis investigandæ: Dioptrice, et Meteora. (The Proofs of Philosophy: The Discourse on the Method of Properly conducting the reason & seeking for truth in the sciences: Dioptics and Meteors) (1650) [bound with] Passiones Animæ. (The Passions of the Soul) (1650) [bound with] Meditationes De Prima Philosophia, in quibus Dei existensia & animæ humanæ à corpore distinctio, demonstrantur. (Meditations on First Philosophy in which the existence of God and the distinction between mind and body is demonstrated) (1654) [bound with] Appendix, continens Objectiones Quintas & Septimas in Renati Des-Cartes Meditationes de Primâ Philosophiâ (Appendix, Five and Seven limiting Objections to Rene Descartes Meditations on First Philosophy) (1654) [bound with] Epistola Renati Des Cartes Ad celeberrimum Virum D.[omino] Gisbertum Voetium (Letters of Rene Descartes to the celebrated Gysbertus Voetius). Descartes published his first book - which contained the famous Discourse on Method - in 1637 and died in 1650. It is almost impossible to overestimate the influence and importance of the writings he produced in those thirteen years. This second collected edition, containing all of his major writings, was published in the year he died. This was a popular edition and it was the one that Spinoza owned and used as his reference for Descartes (Nadler, p. 166).The preliminary half-title states: "RENATI / DES-CARTES / OPERA / PHILOSOPHICA. / EDITIO SECUNDA / Ab Auctore recognita" beneath which someone has (inexplicably) written in faded ink "1656". According to Guibert (pp. 229-30) the Opera Secunda was made up of the Principia, Specimina and Passiones and sometime included Meditationes De Prima Philosophia. The verso of the preliminary half-title list all four of these as being included in the Second Opera. The first three volumes are indeed published in 1650 but the copy of the Meditationes included here is dated 1654 rather than the 1650 edition called for by Guibert. The first edition of Opera Philosophica had been published by Elzevirium in 1644 (Guibert, pp. 229-30). The Principia (1650) - originally published in Latin - is the Fourth Edition and the Second Latin Edition. The first Latin edition was printed in 1644. This was followed by two French editions in 1647. (Guibert, pp. 118-22)The Specimina (1650) - originally published in French - is the Latin translation of the Discourse on Method, Dioptics and Meteors and is the Third Edition of the Discourse and the Second Latin Edition, the first having been printed in 1644. The first French Edition was published in 1637. (Guibert, pp. 14-16, 104-5)The Passiones (1650) - originally published in French - is perhaps the Eighth Edition and certainly the Second Latin Edition, the first having been printed in a 12mo., 242 page edition in the same year by Elzevirium. Both of these were preceded by the original French edition of 1649 and five French editions of 1650. This is the first quarto edition of the work. (Guibert, pp. 150-9) [Guibert does not specifically identify the priority of the 1650 editions so this could conceivably be anywhere from the third to the eighth edition.]The Meditationes (1654) - originally published in Latin - [here printed in three parts to include the Appendix and the Epistola] is the Sixth Edition and the Fifth Latin Edition (the others being printed in 1641, 1642, 1644 and 1650). It was also preceded by a single French edition in 1647. (Guibert, pp. 42-52) Contemporary full vellum with embossed emblem on front and back covers. Binding is soiled and a bit worn overall (as would be expected) and the front cover has a couple of dark stains (half inch wide by 1.5" and 2.5" long) and a small (2" diameter) circular stain. The covers do not "bow out" as is common with vellum bindings. Hand lettering on the spine ("Renati-Des Cartes. / Principia / Philosophiae.") with four raised bands. Spine just a bit worn, top and bottom. Old, faded signature to front free end paper (W. A. Trounton). The lightest of water stains (1" triangle at outside, upper corner) on ten of the first nineteen leaves following the initial TP. Otherwise, the text is in remarkably good shape. Woodcut illustrations in the text; title-page devices. Pencil note on inside rear cover: "Collated & Complete / B. Quaritch / HR". Overall a well-preserved, contemporary copy of an important collection of Descartes' works. PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

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• bookseller: Athena Rare Books (USA)