Turning Points in History: René Descartes – 1724 “Les Méditations Métaphysiques” Book Fragment

Own an Authentic Piece of Important History

Authentic paper fragment dating from 1724
Numbered from 001 – 999 Special Edition
Fascinating, eclectic & interesting conversation piece, a unique philosophy gift

Own a Piece of History!

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The special acrylic capsule encapsulates the in the year 1724 printed Descartes book fragment and also contains a modern information sheet with information on the René Descartes Turning Points in History:

1596 – Descartes born, La Haye en Touraine, France
1614 – Graduated Jesuit College, La Fleche, France
1616 – Graduated law University of Poitiers, France
1618 – Met with Isaac Beeckman in Breda, The Netherlands
1628 to 1649 – Living in Netherlands: Middelburg, 1629 Franeker, 1630 Leiden, 1634 Amsterdam, 1642 Castle Endegeest, 1643 Egmond-Binnen — All major works were written in this time period
1649 – Stockholm, invitation Queen Christina Sweden
1650 – Died of pneumonia, buried Chanut, Sweden
1663 – Works on ‘Index of Prohibited Books’ by The Pope
1671 – Louis XIV prohibited all lectures in Cartesianism
1724 – The paper book page fragment was printed >>>
1819 – Reburied in Abbey of Saint-Germain-de-Prés, France

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Turning Points in History – René Descartes

With meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to excellence, we create spaces that inspire, elevate, and enrich the lives of those who collect them.

This beautiful René Descartes collectable paper fragment printed in the year 1724 comes encapsulated in a special acrylic “time capsule” to protect and ensure it can last for another 300 years or over.

Each authentic paper fragment is printed in the year 1724 and each “time capsule” comes in a special limited edition and is uniquely numbered from 001 to 999.

The other side of the acrylic time capsule

On the other side you can see the other side of the in 1724 printed fragment of the book “Les Méditations Métaphysiques” (Metaphysical Meditations) written by famous philosopher Descartes.

Also it has a modern information sheet with a picture of René Descartes and one of his famous quotes “Cogito, ergo sum.” and another wise quote by Descartes “It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well.”, René Descartes (Renatus Cartesius) 31 March 1596 – 11 February 1650.

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Turning Points in History – René Descartes

FAQs

Is the paper really 300 years old and printed in the year 1724? And what is its size?

Yes, the paper fragment is printed in the year 1724, that makes it 300 years old, very near to the time period in which Descartes lived! The paper comes from an incomplete and damaged book version of “Les Méditations Métaphysiques” (Metaphysical Meditations) by philosopher René Decartes printed in the year 1724 by French book printer “Pierre Morisset” in the city of Paris. The size of the paper fragment is: +- 2,5 x 2,0 inches / +- 6,5 x 5,0 cm. The other info sheet with the dates and other information on René Descartes is of course modern printed paper..

Why does every paper fragment look different?

Each paper fragment comes from one antique, incomplete version of “Les Méditations Métaphysiques” (Metaphysical Meditations) printed in the year 1724. A different paper fragment from each page (each page in the book is different) in the book is carefully removed and inserted inside the acrylic capsule.

What was “Les Méditations Métaphysiques” (Metaphysical Meditations) about?

It is a philosophical treatise by René Descartes first published in Latin in 1641 (title: Meditationes de Prima Philosophia, in qua Dei existentia et animæ immortalitas demonstratur). The French translation was published in 1647 as “Méditations Métaphysiques”. The book is made up of six meditations, in which Descartes first discards all belief in things that are not absolutely certain, and then tries to establish what can be known for sure. He wrote the meditations as if he had meditated for six days: each meditation refers to the last one as “yesterday”. (In fact, Descartes began work on the Meditations in 1639.) The book is one of the most influential philosophical texts ever written, and it is widely read to this day. The book consists of the presentation of Descartes’ metaphysical system at its most detailed level and in the expanding of his philosophical system, first introduced in the fourth part of his Discourse on Method (1637). Descartes’ metaphysical thought is also found in the Principles of Philosophy (1644), which the author intended to be a philosophical guidebook. For more info see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations_on_First_Philosophy

What is the size of the protective, double sided transparent acrylic “Time Capsule”?

The size of the protective acrylic capsule is: 5,9 x 3,9 inches / 15,0 x 10,0 cm.