The History of the Heavens (First English Edition, 1740)

Abbé Noël-Antoine Pluche | Translated by J.B. De Freval

Bibliographic Details:

Title: The History of the Heavens, Considered according to the Notions of the Poets and Philosophers, Compared with the Doctrines of Moses.

Publication: London: Printed for J. Osborn et al., 1740. First English Edition.

Format: Two Volumes, Octavo. (8.25"x5.25")

Binding: Handsome publishers calf, spines with raised bands, gilt ruling, and contrasting morocco title labels.

About This Work

Published during the height of the Enlightenment, Abbé Pluche’s The History of the Heavens is a captivating attempt to decode the ancient cosmos. At a time when European intellectuals were grappling with the profound implications of Sir Isaac Newton’s astronomical breakthroughs, Pluche sought to reconcile the new, rational understanding of the universe with the deep history of human mythology and scriptural tradition.

For the modern collector of early science, cosmology, or antiquarian esoterica, this work serves as a fascinating bridge between the mystical and the mathematical. It makes an outstanding companion piece in any library that houses 18th-century scientific treatises.

Key Themes:

The Origins of Astrology and the Zodiac: Pluche presents a highly original and engaging theory regarding the origins of paganism and astrology. He argues that the signs of the Zodiac and the pantheon of Egyptian gods (such as Osiris, Isis, and Horus) were not originally objects of religious worship. Rather, they were a grand, practical astronomical cipher—a celestial calendar used by early agricultural societies to track the seasons, floods, and harvests, which was later misunderstood by the Greeks and Romans as literal deities.

Cosmology and the Newtonian Era: While the 18th century was dominated by the mathematical frameworks of Newton and the mechanics of the solar system, Pluche’s work tackles the philosophical and historical origins of how humanity looked at the stars. He traces the evolution of cosmological thought from ancient Egypt and Moses through the Greek philosophers, offering a comprehensive look at how our understanding of the heavens evolved before the scientific revolution.

This two-volume set is illustrated with 2 frontispieces and 23 full page copper engravings. The plates are highly collectible in their own right, featuring intricate depictions of Egyptian deities, astrological symbols, zodiacal figures, and mythological iconography. These visuals serve as the physical evidence for Pluche’s arguments, making the ancient "language" of the stars visible to the reader.

Some small loss to head of spines. Internally bright and clean, without marks and very little foxing. A scarce title, especially scarce in its original binding and in this condition.