Bibliotheque Universelle et Historique.

Complete set of this late seventeenth century magazine, published in Amsterdam, made up of various editions but all from the same provenance. Vol. I - XXI all in one volume ; (I & II from the second edition of 1687 ; vol. XVII & XVIII & XIX from the second edition of 1699 ; vol. XX, third edition 1702 ; vol. XXI, third edition 1707 ; Vol. XXII - XXV each in two volumes from the second edition dated between 1698 and 1701). 25 years in 29 volumes. An index volume XXVI was published in 1719 after Fletcher's death. 12mo. All volumes in marbled wrappers, uncut and unopened. Among the many scholarly journals published all over Europe in the decades around 1700 Jean Le Clerc's Bibliothèques, published in Amsterdam, occupied a special place. Jean Le Clerc (1657 - 1736), a theologian and refugee from Geneva, published three periodicals: The Bibliothèque Universelle et Historique (1686-1693); the Bibliothèque Choisie (1703-1713) and the Bibliothèque Ancienne et Moderne (1714-1727). Thanks to his journalistic activities, we now have an excellent picture of contemporary scholarship in the Republic of Letters, the more so since, in the Republic of Letters, the editor did not need to worry so much as his colleagues in other countries about all kinds of repressive measures resulting from sometimes strict censorship. Jean Le Clerc published his periodicals for this large group of interested people who didn't have the time or the financial means to read everything that was being published, like doctors, magistrats and merchants. The periodicals were not intended for specialized scholars. They were published in a small format to enable readers to carry them easily and read them everywhere. This size also enabled smuggling the books to France where the periodical was forbidden. Provenance: From the collection of Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun, with his name written on either the titlpages or the inside back wrapper of most volumes. Did he buy 2nd & 3rd editions because the 1st was sold out and he wanted to have the series complete? [H. Bots, Jean Leclerc pp. 53-66 in Studies in Seventeenth Century English Literature, History and Bibliography & see Wijngaards, De Bibliothèque Choisie van Jean Le Clerc... A'dam, 1986; NNBW IV p. 430-434]