VOLTAIRE: Histoire des croisades, with criticism.... - Lot 39 - Vermot et Associés

VOLTAIRE: Histoire des croisades, with criticism. Berlin, 1751. In-12 contemporary marbled calf, spine ribbed and decorated, red edges (slight spotting). 131 pages. Page 109 bears: Fin de l'histoire de crisades [sic]; following which are pp. 107-117 containing: Lettre à monsieur D*** sur une nouvelle Histoire des croisades, dated Paris, September 8, 1750, and pp. 118-131 containing: Autre Lettre sur la même Histoire des croisades, dated Paris, October 9, 1750. Very rare first edition. Bound at the end: [MARMONTEL] Histoire d'Aristomène, général des Messéniens, avec quelques réflexions sur la tragédie de ce nom. 1749. 52 pages. Following: Traité sur les différens degrez de la certitude morale par rapport aux connaissances humaines. By Mr. D*** Quillau fils, 1750. 48 pages. The calculations of the Scottish mathematician J. Craig (A calculation of credibility of human testimony) had been published in London in 1699 (1700) in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society; they were reproduced in French and distributed anonymously by Boureau-Deslandes in this treatise. C. Borghero considers the latter text to be plagiarism. First edition. Following: [Abbé COYER] La magie démontrée. 1750. 20 pages (numbered 22 but not missing). Pamphlet using the orientalism in vogue at the time to denounce the "magic" used to make the French take lies and illusion for truth. Slight light wetness at the end of the volume, tiny split at one spine, otherwise a fine copy.