DEPARCIEUX, Antoine (1703-1768) Essai sur les probabilités de la durée de la vie humaine; d'où l'on déduit la manière de déterminer les rentes viageres, tant simples qu'en tontines: précédé d'une courte explication sur les rentes à terme, ou annuités; et accompagné d'un grand nombre de tables. Paris, Guerin 1746. [VI],[2 approbation, errata, avis au relieur],132p. (including a table on p.102), 22 tables (table 3 on 3 pages, table 4 on 2 pages, tables 6-13 double-page, tables 16-21 half-page), [1 privilege du roi]p. Bound with two additional pieces. € 2000

Together 3 works in 1 volume. 4to. Contemp. calf, rubbed, extremities worn, joints cracked but holding, gilt back with red label, red edges, marbled endpapers. Small corner (2 cm) of half title torn away. Small armorial blank stamp ('Charles Anderson') in corner of first blank and half-title. The usual light browning. A very good copy with ample margins.
First (only) edition, with the Objections and Addition, rarely found together. The Essay on the probabilities of the duration of human life is one of the major books in the history of statistics and probability theory. Deparcieux had studied various schemes for life insurance, including that developed by the Neapolitan banker Lorenzo de Tonti, whereby upon the death of a participant his share (or only its dividends) is distributed to the remaining members. For the construction of mortality tables Deparcieux studied the life expectancy of members of restricted groups like religious communities, in order to exclude the effects of migration. His tables were used in France for decades.
Deparcieux was a scientist and mathematician, member of the French Academie des Sciences and professor at the Collège de France. He was also a mechanical engineer with particular interest in hydrodynamics and as such best known for his project for the supply of water for Paris, the Canal de l'Ourcq, carried out during the Empire.
Followed by: Objections faites à M. Deparcieux ... sur son Livre des probabilités ... avec les réponses à ces objections [drop title]. [No place or date, privilege at end dated 1746.] 16p.
Followed by: Addition à l'Essai sur les probabilités de la durée de la vie humaine ... par M.Deparcieux. Paris, H.L.Guerin & L.F.Delatour 1760. 32,[3]p., including 4 tables.
*Kress 4801 and 4801a. Einaudi 1529. INED 1346. McCulloch p.246.