First edition of this posthumous collection of shorter writings by the influential German-Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn (1729-1786), edited by Johann Georg Müchler (1724-1819). The collection was intended to preserve and re-circulate a number of Mendelssohns shorter philosophical essays, many of which had previously appeared scattered across contemporary journals and had already become difficult to obtain. In bringing them together, Müchler ensured the continued availability of texts that illuminate the breadth of Mendelssohns thought and the literary clarity for which he was celebrated.
With a bookplate mounted on the front pastedown inscribed "Noel Gouton 1903(?)", made by Stern Graveur, a prominent Parisian engraving house active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which specialized in high-quality ex-libris. The edges of the boards are slightly scuffed, the spine is somewhat discoloured. Internally very clean. Otherwise in very good condition. Fürst II, p. 362; Goedeke IV, p. 164 no. 19; VD18 13630814; WorldCat 231070909, 172996042 (10 copies); cf. Albrecht, "Moses Mendelssohn 1729-1786. Das Lebenswerk eines jüdischen Denkers der deutschen Aufklärung", (1986).