VOLTAIRE (François Marie Arouet, dit). La pucelle d'Orléans, - Lot 303

VOLTAIRE (François Marie Arouet, dit). La pucelle d'Orléans, poëme, divisé en vingt chants, avec des notes, nouvelle édition, corrigée, augmentée et collationnée sur le manuscript de l'auteur. A delightful clandestine edition in miniature format, complete with its suite of remarkably fine engravings. A Conculix [Genève ?], S. d. [1765]. In-18 ( 120 x 65 mm). Full red morocco, triple gilt fillet framing the boards, smooth spine decorated with fleurons, interior lace, gilt edges. Contemporary binding. Continuous pagination: 2pp.n.ch. XV, 138pp-4pp.n.ch 266 pp. 20 plates. Complete with faux-title and title of the second part, which reads "Aux Délices 1765". Leather slightly faded, discreet spotting, 1 cm split at head of first spine, one corner damaged. Fine illustrated underground edition of Voltaire's licentious masterpiece. Nicely printed in small round type, titles with fictitious addresses "A Conculix" & "Aux Délices". The illustration includes a portrait of Voltaire engraved on the title of the first part and 20 unsigned hors-texte intaglio figures set in elegant frames. The subjects, of great finesse, underline the satirical and sometimes erotic character of the poem. The text is based on the 1762 edition, with preface and notes. A very rare copy complete with the title page of the second part, which is often missing (cf. Cohen, 1030). A fresh, clean copy in contemporary morocco.