Bound for Jefferson in tree calf, gilt ornaments on the back, marbled end papers. Signed by Jefferson with a T before sig. 1. On the half-title is written Thomas Jefferson Esq. President United States from the Author. With the Library of Congress 1815 bookplate.

ii. The second copy called for in Jefferson’s manuscript catalogue was of the second edition, and was also a gift of the author:

Élémens d’Idéologie. Première Partie. Idéologie proprement dite . . . Seconde Édition. A Paris: chez Courcier, An xiii . 1804.

8vo. 244 leaves: [ ] ², a ⁶, b ⁸, A-Z, Aa-Ee ⁸, Ff ⁴.

This copy was originally bound for Jefferson in calf, gilt, by John March, on January 25, 1804, cost $1.00; it has been rebound by the Library of Congress in 1931 in ruby buckram. On the half-title is written by the author: presenté a Mr. Jefferson par l’auteur. An initial T has been written in ink on sig. I in imitation of Jefferson’s practice.

iii. Élémens d’Idéologie. Seconde Partie. Grammaire . . . A Paris: chez Courcier, An xi . 1803.

First Edition. 8vo. 236 leaves: a ⁸ (including the last blank, cut away in this copy), A-Z, Aa-Ee ⁸, Ff ⁴, publisher’s advertisement on the last leaf; folded table inserted at page 208.

Calf, label on the back lettered Elemens / D’Ideologie / by March in 1806 (cost $2.00), repaired, with new yellow edges; with the Library of Congress 1815 bookplate.

The two first editions (Part I and Part II) were sent to Jefferson by the author in 1804, before the publication of the second edition of part I in that year.

On February 21, 1804, Destutt de Tracy wrote to Jefferson from Auteuil près Paris: “Le General la fayette me mande qu’il a bien voulu vous faire hommage de ma part, d’un ouvrage qui traite de la formation de nos idées; mais qu’il ne vous est pas parvenu. je regrette que la seconde edition que l’on prepara ne soit pas encor faite, parcequ’elle contiendra quelques additions importantes. en attendant j’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer de nouveau la premiere; et j’y joins une seconde partie que j’ai publiée depuis, et qui traite de l’expression de nos idées. la troisieme a la quelle je travaille, traitera de leur deduction; et complettera le sujet . . .”

The books were received by Jefferson in July 1805. On February 14, 1806, Jefferson wrote from Washington to Destutt de Tracy: “ I have to return you my thanks for the very acceptable present you have been so kind as to make me of the two first parts of your work on Ideologie, & of the analysis of Dupuis. both are on subjects highly interesting. my present position not permitting me to read beyond the papers of the day, I treasure them with those things which are to sweeten a retirement to which age and a passion for letters are daily pressing me. the worth of these works is already stamped by the judgment of those whose good opinion is most flattering. that of my collegues of the American Philosophical society will be manifested to you by their election of you as a member of their institution . . . ”

On October 21, 1811, Destutt de Tracy wrote to Jefferson from Paris and sent him a copy of the first three volumes of this work: “. . . pour vous expliquer mes idées a cet egard, permettez moi de vous rappeller qu’en 1804. j’eus l’honneur de vous envoyer mes deux premiers volumes, l’un intitulé idéologie, l’autre Grammaire. ne sachant pas si ces recherches pouvoient inviter votre attention, je n’ai jamais osé vous envoyer la troisieme partie intitulée logique. aujourdhuy vous me donnez plus d’assurance, et je prends la liberté de vous envoyer cy joint un exemplaire de ces trois volumes tels qu’ils sont maintenant. ils traitent de la formation, de l’expression, et de la combinaison de nos idées. ils composent, suivant ma maniere de voir, l’histoire de nos moyens de connoitre, ou si vous voulez, un traité de notre entendement . . .””