"Monde primitif, analysé et comparé avec le monde moderne, considéré dans l’histoire civile, religieuse et allégorique du calendrier ou almanach" is the fourth of nine volumes in the Monde Primitif series written by Antoine Court de Gébelin and published in Paris between 1773 and 1782. It's an 8"x10.25" leather-bound hardcover published in 1776 by Chez L'Auteur and others. All text is in French. [8], xxxii, 632, [2] pages plus 8 plates.
Many of the basic concepts of modern-day occultism originate with De Gébelin's work. He popularized the notion that ancient civilizations shared arcane knowledge now lost, and in Vol. 7 first described the Tarot as a tool to divine esoteric secrets. In this volume he examines ancient calendars and concepts of time.
The leather is heavily worn, cracked and chipped, peeling away from the boards and spine. The gilt spine decorations have worn away for the most part. There's loss to the marbled front endpapers. There are pencil marks to several flyleaves. Pages 161-176 and 345-376 are bent at the top corner; several other pages have bent corners. The eight plates are present, with light foxing.