This is a major donation for the Perpignan University Library: a complete, period edition in excellent condition of the 35 volumes of the Encyclopédie by Diderot and d’Alembert published in 1768 and coming from the personal library of Alfred Sauvy. A donation made to the University of Perpignan by John Wilkinson, former professor at Oxford and son-in-law of the great intellectual who died in 1990.
A bibliophile’s treasure in perfect condition
These 35 volumes published in the 18th century, that of the Enlightenment, represent a real treasure for the collections of the university library of Perpignan, underlines its Director Etienne Rouziès:
“We were very happily surprised, it was an extraordinary proposition for us! What is quite exceptional is to have a period edition, contemporary with the writing of the Encyclopédie by Diderot and d’Alembert . The Encyclopedia is 35 volumes, 150 contributors, 72,000 articles! A colossal and unprecedented piece of research which spanned 20 years and mobilized the most advanced minds of this century.”
This first great Encyclopedia of History is already classified in alphabetical order and is divided into different volumes including texts, plates, supplements and tables.
“The volumes of plates are separate. They are large sheets illustrated with large format engravings, always with an attention to detail, precision and accuracy (….) Look for example, here it is a louse observed under a microscope and represented on a board spread over three sheets, we can even see the hair to which it is attached! This is exactly the spirit of the encyclopedia: a scientific spirit which uses instruments to represent reality as faithfully as possible.”
The Encyclopedia, a collection of knowledge that also represents a great humanist manifesto recalls Etienne Rouziès, director of the university library of the University of Perpignan Via Domitia: “The Encyclopedia is not only a compilation of knowledge, it is also a philosophical program which is geared towards progress, tolerance, the promotion of critical thinking. It is truly the incarnation of a certain spirit of the Enlightenment.”
An exhibition coming in October 2024
The edition of the Encyclopedia offered to the UPVD was one of the jewels of the personal library by Alfred Sauvy (1898-1990)great economist, sociologist, demographer, at the origin in particular of the concept and the expression “Third World”.
His great-nephew, Olivier Poisson, is pleased to see this collection bequeathed to the funds of the library of the University of Perpignan: ” Alfred Sauvy was a great bibliophile. Like all intellectuals of his time, he had great respect for books, the main vector for transmitting knowledge, to which he took great care. He always remained very attached to Roussillon, where he was born, and where he rests in Montalba-le-Château… our department is unfortunately not the most endowed in France, so it is a very good thing that this collection was given to the University of Perpignan!
The 35 volumes of this rare edition of the Encyclopedia will be presented to the general public duringan exhibition to be held on Saturday, October 12, 2024 on the occasion of the science festival at the university library of Perpignan.
Tanguy Bocconi
Tanguy Bocconi
Tanguy Bocconi
Tanguy Bocconi
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