A complete two-volume eighteenth-century edition of Cornelius de Pauw's influential Recherches Philosophiques sur les Égyptiens et les Chinois, one of the notable comparative studies of ancient civilizations produced during the European Enlightenment.

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Published in Berlin in 1773 and 1774, this work examines the history, religion, customs, government, architecture, and intellectual traditions of ancient Egypt and China through the lens of eighteenth-century philosophical inquiry.

 

De Pauw was among the most widely discussed and controversial scholars of his era, and his writings contributed significantly to contemporary debates concerning the origins and development of human civilization.

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This set remains in its contemporary bindings with decorative gilt spine tooling and retains marbled endpapers. The folding map of Egypt is present, adding both historical and bibliographic interest. More than 250 years after publication, the volumes continue to display beautifully and represent an appealing example of Enlightenment-era scholarship and bookmaking.

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A scarce and attractive survival from the eighteenth century, offering collectors an opportunity to acquire an original period edition of an important work of comparative history, philosophy, and early cultural studies.