Large folio (42cm x 27cm) contemporary fine binding in full leather, spine on 6 cords with gilt title label and gilt-decorated compartments (tips bumped, headbands bare). All Edges Rouge, fine marbled end-papers, LIVpp (1752 Title in red & black + Preface) + xii errata +[2]pp +819pp (pagination continuous except after p364 2nd Title 1748 printed like 1st in red & black) +[1]p Approbation (naming author Sieur Joly, Chanoine de la Chapelle-au-Riche de Dijon). Folio pages beautifully crisp, clean and un-foxed throughout. *Extensive commentary by French Catholic Joly, on the Historical and Critical Dictionary of Huguenot Protestant Pierre Bayle (1647-1706). Bayle's first French encyclopedia was tolerant in religion and a major influence on 18th century Enlightenment. Here the Preface explains that Joly had two main objects - to correct Bayle's perceived errors, and supplement his omissions. So this work made an influential contribution in its own right to religious debate and knowledge, 50 years after Bayle's first publication. NB extra shipping cost for large folio weighing 4.5Kg.