[DIDEROT - D'ALEMBERT]. ENCYCLOPÉDIE OU DICTIONNAIRE RAISONNÉ DES SCIENCES, des Arts et des Métiers, par une société de gens de lettres... Paris, Briasson, David, Le Breton, Durand, Stoupe, Panckoucke, Brunet : Neufchatel, Faulche [Actually Paris], 1751-1780. 35 volumes in folio, brown calf, spine ribbed and decorated (period binding). The first edition of this famous work, the greatest achievement of printing in the service of French thought and technology. It consists of 17 volumes of text and 11 volumes of plates published by Le Breton between 1751 and 1772; 4 volumes of supplements and 1 volume of plates. Finally, 2 volumes of alphabetical tables published by Panckoucke in 1780. There are 3099 plates (out of 3129), (30 plates, Lutherie, marbrerie et papeterie having not been bound in this copy). It is however complete with the 3 plates of hermaphrodites which are often missing, the large folding table "Essai d'une distribution..." and especially the 2 different magnificent frontispieces, drawn by Cochin, one with the press and the other without it. Some differences in binding, restorations to many volumes (headbands, corners, hinges).