8vo. [16], 633pp, [1]. Title in red and black. Woodcut device on title, woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, and several woodcut diagrams (chiefly astronomical). Contemporary gilt-tooled calf, later rebacked, partly preserving contemporary spine panel, contrasting red morocco lettering-piece, marbled edges. Rubbed. Decorated endpapers, bookplate with initials 'G. H.' to FEP, inked ownership inscription (with a Bible verse in Greek beneath) of Charles Hénault (1685-1770), conseiller au Grand conseil, historian, a friend of Voltaire and a patron of authors in general.

The first edition of the final work by political philosopher Jean Bodin (c.1530-1596); a veritable encyclopaedia of the sciences, presented in the form of a dialogue between a disciple (Theodorus) and his master (Mystagogus). It was a key text of late Renaissance natural philosophy, in which the author combines arguments from reason, experience, and authority to undermine traditional Aristotelian conclusions, proposing instead a natural philosophy based on pious - often biblical – solutions interlaced with idiosyncratic personal views.

This copy is from the second issue of the first edition. There is no printer’s mark on the title page of the first issue, which is printed in black whereas the title of the second issue is printed in black and red. Also there is no dedicatory epistle in the first issue.