COYER, Gabriel Francois (1707-1782)

Oeuvres complettes.

      Paris, veuve Duchesne 1782-1783. 7 volumes. 12mo. With engraved oval portrait of the author in volume 1 and another portrait in volume 6. Contemp. calf, backs richly gilt with double labels, triple line gilt borders on all sides, marbled endpapers, marbled edges. Faint water stain in upper margin of 3 volumes, minor wear to extremities. A fine set. First and only collective edition. The abbe Gabriel Francois Coyer was born in the Franche-Comte from a poor family and educated by the Jesuits. The short biographical sketch of the author included in the first volume records that he left the order in 1736 'because of his love for freedom and peace', which resulted in a conflict with his superiors. He became secretary to the prince de Turenne and chaplain general to the cavalry, which brought him to the battle of Lawfelt (Lauffeld) and the siege of Bergen-op-Zoom in 1747. He held various other official positions and made travels to Italy and England, where he became a member of the Royal Society. His biographer characterizes him as 'an enemy by nature of fanatism, intolerance and superstition'. Most of his works are of economic interest and well represented in the economic collections of Kress, Goldsmiths', Einaudi (1381-1390) and INED (1224-1233). *This collective edition not in Kress, Goldsmiths', Einaudi or INED. CCFr records 2 sets only (BnF and Mediatheque J.J.Rousseau, Chambery). NUC ('3 vols') locates 3 sets. OCLC gives 5 locations (COO, RRR, EEM, PUL and Oxford). COPAC records the Oxford set only. Detailed contents of the volumes: 1. Bagatelles morales. Dissertations pour etre lues. Discours sur la satyre contre les philosophes. Lettre au R.P. Berthier sur le materialisme. De la predication. Essai sur la predication. 2. La noblesse commercante. Developpement et defense du systeme de la noblesse commercante. Chinki, histoire cochinchinois. Epitre d'Heloise a Abaillard. Lettre au docteur Maty. 3. Plan d'education publique. 4. Voyage d'Italie. 5. Voyage de Hollande, en 1769. Nouvelle observations sur l'Angleterre. Discours prononces dans la Chambre des communes, a l'occasion de la guerre presente de l'Angleterre avec ses colonies [Discours de M. Wilkes]. 6 & 7. Histoire de Jean Sobieski. (#29666)