VOLTAIRE. The Works of Mr. de Voltaire. - Lot 307

VOLTAIRE. The Works of Mr. de Voltaire. A mysterious pirated edition from Lyon of Voltaire’s Works in 40 volumes, supplemented by the original clandestine edition of the philosopher’s final publication during his lifetime: "The Bible Finally Explained by Several Chaplains of His Majesty, Lord of the Realm, and Prince of the Blood" (London, 1776) and by 21 volumes of a Basel edition. S.l. [Lyon], s.é. [Regnault], 1775. 39 vols. in-8, marbled Lavallière calfskin, smooth spines decorated with gilt garlands and fleurons, triple gilt fillet framing the covers, blue marbled edges [vol. 36: ribbed spine]. Not collated; ten volumes illustrated with copperplate engravings, three of which include at least one frontispiece. Spines creased and slightly sun-faded, normal wear and tear on the edges, and worn clasps; some foxing. Rare 40-volume Lyon pirated edition based on the Geneva edition of Voltaire’s *Œuvres* published the same year. Only vol. 14 is missing, corresponding to tome 1 of the *Essai sur les Mœurs* and *L’Esprit des Nations*. It was not identified (or rediscovered) until 1977 by Jeroom Vercruysse (1936–present), who devoted a study to it in volume CLXVIII of the journal *Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth Century*, despite the difficulty of obtaining a complete set. It differs from the official edition (known as the “framed” edition) in that it features small floral motifs set within the text’s border, instead of the palmettes used in the Geneva edition. It may have been the result of a collaboration between printers in Geneva and Lyon to better penetrate the French market; Voltaire himself was aware of the venture and wrote, no doubt ironically, to Panckoucke (1736–1798), who had taken it upon himself to send a Geneva edition to France: “In truth, this edition is good for nothing but kindling the St. John’s Day bonfire. I deeply pity you for having taken on such ridiculous merchandise.” Unusually, our set consists exclusively of volumes from this mysterious counterfeit edition and contains no added pages from the Geneva edition. With a handwritten “De Floyn” bookplate on each title page. A volume numbered 41 completes our edition. This is none other than the original clandestine edition of Voltaire’s final publication, “The Bible Finally Explained by Several Chaplains of His Majesty the King of Poland.” [His Majesty the King of Poland, according to Quérard]: London, n.p., 2 volumes in 1 in-8 volume, identical binding, 1776, 274 pp. - 2 unnumbered folios. - 1 unnumbered plate - [276–550] pp., normal wear and tear, upper cap missing, worn joints, a few foxing spots, and about twenty browned leaves. Although a version printed in the same year by forgers exists (containing 316 and 318 pp.), the absence of the printer’s mark and the pagination strongly suggest that this is the first edition. The same "De Floyn" bookplate appears on the first title page. Finally, 19 volumes serving as a “Supplement to the Complete Works of Voltaire” and bound in half-basane of the same shade complete these 40 volumes, forming volumes 42 through 62 (volumes 55—“Collection of Letters. Volume XII. 1772–1774”—and 57—“Letters of the Crown Prince of Prussia and Mr. de Voltaire, Volume I”—are missing). Printed in Basel by Jean-Jacques Tourneisen in 1790, this series reproduces, almost volume by volume, volumes 50 through 70 of Voltaire’s *Complete Works* published by the same printer between 1784 and 1789. A total of 59 volumes (39+1+19) make up this impressive series. A rare and highly interesting collection. Sources: - Quérard, I, 403 (for the EO). - General Catalog of the BNF, records no. FRBNF36586109 and no. FRBNF31605414 (idem). - Heidelberg Historic Literature - Digitized (for Jean-Jacques Tourneisen’s 1784–1789 edition - Martin, Philippe, ed. “The Framed Edition of Voltaire’s Works (1775).” In “Varryations.” Villeurbanne, Presses de l’enssib, 2020 (online, for the Lyon pirate edition).