Baudeau, N. — Encyclopédie Méthodique. Commerce. I-III. [Complete].

Paris, Panckoucke, 1783-1787. Three volumes in five. 4to (27.5 x 21.5 cm). Three titles to the Encyclopédie, three titles with wood-engraved vignette, to the Commerce volumes; 2441 pp. [xxxii, 766; 798; 831, xvi (index)]; three large, multi-folded tables. Uniform publisher's grey boards with printed label on the spines. = A seldom-seen part of the Ultimate Encyclopaedia and the largest of all great Encyclopaedias and the most important work published during the French Enlightement. Complete sets in original boards, such as this one, are more rare. This section - complete in itself - was written by the French economist and theologian Nicolas Baudeau (1732-1790). "In 1765 he founded the first economics periodical to be published in France, Éphémérides du citoyen ...The French word "économiste" first appeared in print in a book by Baudeau. Early usage of the concept of an "entrepreneur" can also be attributed to Baudeau" (Wikipedia). [In the rear is a "Table ordinale et raisonnée, des articles de ce Dictionnaire, desquels la lecture peut servir de traité élémentaire pour chaque partie de Commerce". The first volume was published in one, thick part, instead of the usual two parts. Some, mostly light, wear to the boards; the labels, and the spine foot of the first volume abraded; otherwise, a very good set. Schmitt, S. (2018) Inventaire des livraisons, des auteurs et du contenu de l’Encyclopédie méthodique (1782-1832).