Item #51-3674 Les Plans et les statuts, des différents établissements ordonnés par sa majesté impériale Catherine II. Pour l'éducation de la jeunesse et l'utilité générale de son empire, ecrits en langue russe par Mr. Betzky & traduits en langue françoise, d'après les originaux, par Mr. Clerc. Tome premier [-second]. First edition. Ivan Ivanovitch Betzky, Nicolas-Gabriel Le Clerc, Marc Michel Rey, imperatrice de Russie Catherine.

Les Plans et les statuts, des différents établissements ordonnés par sa majesté impériale Catherine II. Pour l'éducation de la jeunesse et l'utilité générale de son empire, ecrits en langue russe par Mr. Betzky & traduits en langue françoise, d'après les originaux, par Mr. Clerc. Tome premier [-second]. First edition.

Amsterdam, Marc-Michel Rey, 1775. 2 volumes bound in one, 4to (265 x 205mm.), 2 half-titles, 7 engraved plates (including 3 folding), 68 engraved head-and tail-pieces and vignettes,5 folding tables (2 + 3), Contemporary roan. Hinges cracked, but solid.

OCLC Number: 491684666
Notes: Citation française au titre.
Epître dédicatoire à Catherine II. Introduction.
Deux front. gr. s. c. Vignettes aux titres gr. s. c. avec la devise "Ingeniosa assiduitate". Vignettes in-texte gr. s. c. Planches dépl. gravées.
Sig. *4, A-V4, A-F4, A-V4.
Reproduction Notes: Tome 2
Description: 2 tomes en 1 vol. (VI-[2]-160-42-[6]-160 p., [5] tableaux dépl., [6] f. de pl.) : ill. ; in-4.

Ivan Ivanovich Betskoi (or Betsky, 1704-1795) was appointed by Catherine II to
be her principal adviser on education in 1763. This work contains his proposals
for a svstem of state education in Russia,including reports of various commissions and imperial edicts and orders. The plans set out the general principles of education that Catherine proposed to adopt with the aim of creating a newly educated class.
The first part contains Le plan general de la Maison Imperiale d'Education fondee a Moscou. This private foundation, dating from 1764, was under the direct control of the Empress, and relied solely on private subscription. The second part is concerned with the work of other similar foundations in Russia and concludes with an essay Observations physiques sur I'education des enfans. The translator, Nicolas Gabrielle Clerc (1726-98), was a member of the St Petersburg Academy of Sciences and was involved in the reorganization of Russian charitable institutions. At the end of the book there is a short paragraph by Diderot in which he eulogizes the achievements of Betskoi (p.157).

Originally published in Russian at St Petersburg in 1774, this is the first French edition, arranged by Diderot after his return from Russia, during which he advised Catherine on educational matters. Item #51-3674

Price: $1,750.00