DIDEROT (Denis) - ALEMBERT (Jean Le Rond d'). Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des Sciences, des Arts et des Métiers. Paris, Neuchâtel & Amsterdam, 1751-1780. 30 vol. in-folio bound in blond half calf with corners, spine with gilt and ornamented bands (period binding). A copy with a total of 2570 plates, some of which are double-page or folding, and 3 tables spread over 11 volumes. First edition of this literary and intellectual monument to the Enlightenment, which was compiled, elaborated and finally published following a long period of work spanning more than 30 years. A literary and technical undertaking in the service of the Enlightenment, the Encyclopédie was the result of a collective effort led by Diderot and d'Alembert, which brought together more than 70,000 articles by nearly 150 contributors, including Grimm, Holbach, Turgot, Buffon, Marmontel, Condorcet and Rousseau. The first seven volumes were published with royal privilege in Paris, but the work was condemned twice, leading to printing going underground and using the false reference to a Neuchâtel edition. The commercial success was extremely important, with a very extensive sales and distribution network that managed to get through the censorship.5 vol. of Supplements printed later by Panckoucke are missing, including the one of plates. Good condition with some wear to bindings, notably to headpieces, corners and spines. Provenance: Bibliothèque de la Fondation de la Grant Part