"It is no exaggeration to say that Descartes was the first of modern philosophers and one of the first of modern scientists..."
Discours De La Methode de Mr Descartes, par L.P.N.I.P.P.D.L, Paris, 1668; [together with] Commentaire ou remarques sur la méthode de Mr Descartes: ou on établit plusieurs principes généraux nécessaires pour entendre toutes ses oeuvres / par L.P.N.I.P.P.D.L. Paris, 1670; [Together with] Traite de Mechaniques de Mr Descartes, par L.P.N.I.P.P.D.L, Paris, 1668.
THIRD EDITION OF RENE DESCARTES' DISCOURSE ON METHOD (1668), TOGETHER WITH THE FIRST EDITION OF POISSON'S COMMENTARY ON THE DISCOURSE ON METHOD (1670) AND THE FIRST EDITION OF DESCARTES' TREATISE ON MECHANICS (1668)!
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Nicolas-Joseph Poisson, an Oratorian priest and Cartesian philosopher, contributed significantly to Descartes' works. His involvement included translating Descartes' Compendium of Music and a letter to Constantijn Huygens, which he titled as Traité des méchaniques [Treatise on Mechanics], as well as providing a commentary on Descartes' Discourse on Method and various other works. He engaged in discourse about Cartesianism's compatibility with Catholicism, ultimately halting his plan to comment on all of Descartes' works under orders from his Oratory superiors. Poisson assisted Baillet in gathering information for his biography of Descartes and wrote a commentary on the Discourse on Method (1670).
However, Poisson faced challenges due to the Oratory's already troubled relationship with Aristotelian proponents. He abandoned projects, such as a comprehensive Descartes commentary, to protect the Oratory's standing. He even declined Queen Christine's request for a Descartes biography. Poisson's involvement in presenting a memorial to Pope Innocent XI against certain theological propositions led to his temporary exile in Nevers. He died in Lyon in 1710.
VERY RARE. We could trace only one copy appearing at auction in the last 25 years, that being at Christie's 15th Dec 2005 lot 376 in Rome. The first edition of Descartes' Discourse on Method (1637) generally sells for around £250,000, and so it is without hesitation that we regard this example as one of the earliest obtainable of Descartes' most important work.
This printing of the Discourse on Method aligns with the second printing as described in Guibert's monumental bibliography on Descartes, being listed under the title of the 3rd edition. The Poisson Commentary matches the 1670 printing as listed by the University of Notre Dame, and is not self-referential to being a 'new edition' in the notice to the reader at the rear as the 1671 second edition is, and the Treatise on Mechanics also presents as the second printing of the 1668 first edition as described by Guibert. It is important to state here that this is based on our research of the relevant scholarship and there is always some uncertainty when title pages are lacking as with this example. It is our opinion that the information presented here is accurate. To further the notion of accuracy, we could not trace any later editions printed by the same publisher of this work, just the two printings as mentioned by Guibert, and we know the publisher with certainty as the book is self-referential to this in various places.
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Size: 108 x 183 mm (approx.)
Condition:
Near contemporary quarter calf leather over marbled boards with first blank glued to pastedown. Lacking any labels to the spine, though the remnants of one are present. 'I' also to spine indicating that this is a volume one, though this contains all works in their complete form as published. Some rubbing to spine with minor wear to joints but with both boards securely attached, the binding secure and without shelf lean. Page edges uncut and thus non-uniform at the fore edge and bottom edge. Minor shelf wear. Very clean through the page block without any foxing, dampstaining, writing, or other similar issues, though mildly toned as typical. Lacks main title page of the Discourse on Method, else textually complete. Poisson's Commentary collates as complete. The letter collates as complete. The Treatise on Mechanics lacks first leaf of the Table Des Matieres else textually collates as complete, though with foldout plates four and five bound after the Table des Matieres at the end of the book as opposed to their usual place, also with foldout plates one and two detached but present. Plate three bound in with the Discourse on Method at the front, attached.
[Guibert, Bibliographie Descartes, pp.18-20]
