Histoire Philosophique et Politique des Etablissements

& du Commerce des Européens dans les deux Indes. [7 parts]. G.T. Raynal. Maastricht, J.E. Dufour, 1775. Small 8vo, 7 vols., uniformly bound in leather, title on spine in gilt stamping, edges red, ± 2400 pp. An engraving of the author before the text and all vols. with an engraving and a folding map; all 8 prints and 7 maps in copper engraving.

Raynal became mostly known for L'Histoire philosophique et politique des établissements et du commerce des Européens dans les deux Indes (first edition Amsterdam, 6 vols., 1770). Several authors contributed to the work, incl. mostly Denis Diderot and Alexandre Deleyre, but also Pechméja, baron d'Holbach, Jacques Paulze and abbé Martin. The book examines the colonial regions and from this research deduces theoretical ideas on the future of Europe. It discusses subjects such as trade, religion and slavery from a radical-critical enlightenment perspective. Very good and complete set. (total 7)