5 Antique Prints-AGRICULTURE-TOBACCO INDUSTRY-SIGAR-SMOKING-ECONOMY-Diderot-1751

Copperplate engraving and etching on a verge type hand laid paper with watermark, not visible on every sheet. on paper.

Size in cm: The overall size is ca. 26.5 x 42 cm. The image size is ca. 20.5 x 34 cm. Size in inch: The overall size is ca. 10.4 x 16.5 inch. The image size is ca. 8.1 x 13.4 inch.

Plate I – VI: ‘Oeconomie Rustique, Fabrique du Tabac.’ (Agriculture and Economy, Tobacco Factory.) Set of 5 plates (of 6) dealing with the tobacco industry in the 18th century. These plates originate from the plate section. Included is a copy with legends / explications. This old antique print originates from: ‘The Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, par une Société de Gens de lettres.’ which was published under the direction of Diderot and d’Alembert, with 17 volumes of text and 11 volumes of plates between 1751 and 1772. It contained 72,000 articles written by more than 140 contributors. This encyclopdia was a massive reference work for the arts and sciences, as well as a means to propagate the ideas of the French Enlightment. The impact of this encyclopedia was enormous.Artists and Engravers: Denis Diderot (1713-1784) was a French philosopher, art critic and writer. Jean le Rond d’Alembert (1717-1783) was a French mathematician, mechanician, physicist and philosopher. These plates are engraved by J.A.Defehrt and Bonaventure/Benoit-Louis Prevost after J.R Lucotte or Goussier.

Condition: Excellent. General age related toning. Occasional light staining. Irregular paper edges as issued.

Keywords: 5 ANTIQUE PRINTS-AGRICULTURE-TOBACCO INDUSTRY-SIGAR-SMOKING-ECONOMY-DIDEROT

(PCOMAN) A112-13