Paris, Pancoucke, 1789-1792 [AND] Mme veuve Agasse, 1832. 4to (27.8 x 21.3 cm [AND] 25.1 x 20.8 cm). 1321 (of 1915) pp. [i-vi, 1-757; 595-1152]. Original boards, and contemporary half calf over marbled boards.

A rare part of the Ultimate Encyclopaedia and the largest of all great Encyclopaedias and the most important work published during the French Enlightenment. Especially the third volume is rare. Includes both the original title page, erroneously stating "Tome sixième", and the corrected title, published together with the second text part (pp. 345-757, with correct "Tome premier", as well as a new title to the Encyclopédie, which differs from the first in having an "Avis important" printed on its verso; this, however, incorrectly stating that "tome sixième belongs to Oliviers part on insects". All this has not been recorded by Schmitt. The rare second volume, published in 1830, is not present. Jean-Guillaume Bruguière (1750-1798) took a degree in medicine in his home town Montpellier. "In 1773 he joined Kerguelen as a zoologist on the latter's second voyage to the southern seas... He was the author of several papers on invertebrates in the first volume of the "Actes" of the Société d'Histoire Naturelle in such eminent company as Lamarck, Bosc, Olivier, Pelletier and Cuvier. The widespread public recognition of his growing ability soon became so great that he was commissioned to supply the treatise on Vermes for the Encyclopèdie Méthodique" (Dodge, 484). The third part, published long after Bruguière's death, was written by the French malacologist and palaeontologist Gérard Paul Deshayes (1796-1875). Binding worn, spine of the second part of the first volume abraded, in the first part, only perished at the top and foot; third volume leather dried, much worn, and boards detached; but contents in very good condition, clean, unmarked. Nissen ZBI, 4621; Schmitt, S. (2018) Inventaire des livraisons, des auteurs et du contenu de l’Encyclopédie méthodique( 1782-1832).