A Paris Chez Panckoucke, 1784

267 intaglio engraved plates signed Bernard many of which are on double pages. Complete in itself. 4pp prelims, which includes title page and itemises the plates in sections of the work between H and M. 267 plates. Begins, as issued, at plate 29 - Watchmaking [ second part] then covers printing, mathematical instruments, musical instruments, lead rolling, eyeglass maker, violin maker, masonry, stone cutting, marble work, paper marbler, farrier, carpenter, miller, mirror maker, coinage etc. Each section separately numbered. 4to. 310 x 25 0mm. As issued in original boards, sewn. Spine mostly lost – remnant spine label present. Plates very bright throughout. Stain at the bottom edge of first 30 or so but images unaffected. Charles Joseph Panckouke 1736-1798 in Paris was a publisher and booksellers. He was a major figure in the publication of the Encyclopédie méthodique after the original work by Diderot and d'Alembert. He bought the rights to Diderot' work. The Encyclopédie méthodique, known as the "Panckoucke Encyclopaedia", is monumental based on the Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers by Diderot and d'Alembert with the aim of improving and completing it. Unlike the latter, it is divided into subjects spread over 40 scientific dictionaries. It was intended to remedy the fragmentation of Diderot's work.