L'Homme Machine (Man, the Machine) [bound with] L'Homme-Plante (Man, the Plant).
Published by Elie Luzac Fils, Leyde, 1748
- First Edition
- Signed
- Used
Seller: Athena Rare Books ABAA, Fairfield, CT, U.S.A.Athena Rare Books ABAA
AbeBooks seller since January 24, 2003
Condition: Used
£ 4,577.40
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
TP + [i]-[iv] = Avertissement + [vi]-[xviii] = Dedicace + [1]-109, 12mo. Sometimes referred to as the "X" issue of the First Edition but, more accurately, the Second Edition, (Stoddard 31).[bound with]L'Homme-Plante (Man, the Plant). Chez Chretien Frederie Voss. [nd: 1748]. TP + [3] = Préface + [5]-58. First Edition. Issue A (Stoddard 34).L'Homme MachineThe rare second edition of La Mettrie's L'Homme Machine - the first edition (numbering 108 pages and sometimes referred to as the "W" issue) having been destroyed on orders of the Consistoire of Leyden in December of 1747 with almost no copies surviving. Tchemerzine (VI, p. 465) reports only 6 to 8 extant copies of this edition - but incorrectly claims a TP date of 1747. Tchemerzine then lists a 148 page edition as being the next edition issued after this rare first edition but this has since been proved to be a later piracy and is sometimes referred to as the "Y" issue. Roger Stoddard, in his recent bibliography on La Mettrie, lists the rare 108 page version (#30) as the true first edition. He differentiates between two 109 page versions (#31 & #32) by noting that the first has a 6 line quote from Voltaire on the TP while the second has a 7 line quote. Although both of these books have title pages listing 1748 (MDCCXLVIII) as the publication date, Stoddard notes that the first (#31) was published in "1752 or before" and the second (#32) in 1764. This copy has the 6-line quote from Voltaire identifying it as Stoddard's #31. This book marks the starting point of modern materialism and was the most forceful expression of the anti-religious sentiment of the Enlightenment. In La Mettrie's "human machine' there was no essential difference between conscious and unconscious behavior, no freedom of the will, no rational soul and no moral good beyond the perfectibility of the mechanism. In its final consequence, this doctrine of physiological determinism leaves no freedom to the individual and all human actions are intrinsically amoral. L'Homme-PlanteThe scarce first edition of La Mettrie's L'Homme-Plante. This copy has all of the issue points called for by Stoddard (p. [5], l. 3 = "enco-"; 19-20 numbered in the gutters; p. 48 misprinted as 84) for the A edition. (He identifies the B as "probably a counterfeit.")Having described man as a soul-less machine in the previous book, La Mettrie followed this with a detailed description of the workings of the human body based on a comparison with plants, in an attempt to show the uniformity of the animal and vegetable kingdoms. Moving on to the differences between the two, La Mettrie demonstrates that - similar to the case with human beings and other animals - there is no need for a soul to explain the functioning of plants. Contemporary worn pasteboards with ¾ leather. The spine has four raised bands with gilt lettering on a red field the second compartment. An absolutely lovely copy of two rare little books. ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.…
Seller Inventory # 1001
Bibliographic details
- Title
- L'Homme Machine (Man, the Machine) [bound with] L'Homme-Plante (Man, the Plant).
- Author
- LA METTRIE, Julien.
- Publisher
- Elie Luzac Fils, Leyde
- Publication year
- 1748
- Signed
- Signed by Author(s)
- Edition
- SECOND EDITION.
- Seller catalogs
- Philosophy & Religions
Athena Rare Books ABAA
Fairfield, CT, U.S.A.
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 7.41 | £ 11.11 |
Payment methods
- Bank Draft
- Bank Wire Transfer
- Cash
- Check
- Direct Debit
- Money Order
Specialty
philosophy, science, history of ideasAssociation member
Seller's business information
Athena Rare Books ABAA
CT, U.S.A.
Terms of sale
All items are offered subject to prior sale. All items are guaranteed as described. We are willing to hold items for seven days. Items for any reason unsatisfactory may be returned within ten days of receipt, with prior notice. Any returns must be well packaged and sent in a traceable manner. Additional insurance is not required for a return shipment. We accept checks (in U.S. currency) and wire transfers. Connecticut residents please add appropriate sales tax. Payment in advance is required for first time clients. We can offer deferred billing to institutions. Shipping is not included in the book price. Minimum domestic ground shipping is $5.00, with larger orders at cost. International air and surface shipments at cost. Title to all material remains with Athena Rare Books, Inc. until receipt of payment in full.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Athena Rare Books ABAA, Fairfield, Connecticut, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.