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105 - [VOLTAIRE (François-Marie Arouet, known as)].
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Estimate €800 - €1,000
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Description
[VOLTAIRE (François-Marie Arouet, known as)]. Candide, or Optimism, translated from the German by Dr Ralph. By M. de V., sl, sn, 1759. In-12, 215 pp. (badly numbered 315). Signatures A–I; page 195 is erroneously paginated as 105; the typeface changes from p. 193 onwards. The last of the seven editions published in the same year as the original (published in Geneva by Cramer and comprising 299 pp.) (Bengesco I, 1441.) Bound together with: [VOLTAIRE (François-Marie Arouet de)]. ZADIG, or Destiny; an Oriental Tale. n.p. [Nancy], n.p. [Leseure?], 1748. In-12, IX-[3]-195 pp. First edition under this title, partly in the original form. It is expanded to include a dedicatory epistle to the Sultana Shéraa, who is identified as the Marquise de Pompadour, and three previously unpublished chapters, ‘The Supper’, ‘The Rendezvous’ and ‘The Fisherman’, as well as significant variations in four chapters. “It was under the title *Memnon* that *Zadig* first appeared [in 1747]. According to Longchamp (Mémoires sur Voltaire, vol. II, p. 140), *Memnon* and *Zadig* were written at Sceaux, at the Duchess of Maine’s residence, in 1746 (read: at the end of 1747).“ Bengesco. Collation of the preliminary folios: [1] title folio. 4 folios paginated III–IX for the Dedication to the Sultana Sheraa (= Madame de Pompadour), and the Approval (on the reverse of p. IX); 1 unnumbered folio for the Table of Contents and the Errata. (Bengesco 1421.) Brown calfskin, ribbed spine decorated with gilded heraldic ironwork, red edges (contemporary binding). Caps and corners worn. Light water stains, foxing. Spine decorated with heraldic crests featuring a chevron accompanied by three towers and a ducal crown; coat of arms unknown to the O.H.R. Following extensive research in various heraldic sources, these arms could be attributed either to Nicolle DAUVERGNE, widow of Étienne Millet (see Mémoires de la Société des Antiquaires du Centre, 1883, vol. 3, based on the *Armorial général de France* by d’Hozier, 1696–1709; see the manuscript from the Cabinet des Titres by d’Hozier on Gallica), or to the lords of BOUZITAT (see Soultrait, *Armorial historique et archéologique du Nivernais*, vol. I, p. 170 and plate XII; *Nobiliaire du Nivernais*, pp. 625–626), or finally to Pierre-François GORGE, Lord of ENTRAIGUES (appointed Duke of Phalary (or Falary) by the Pope but who died in 1740 without issue…; cf. Dubuisson, *Armorial of the Principal Houses and Families of the Kingdom*, p. 169.).
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About the sale Bibliophilia (sale without a live event)
Auction location
Auction time 09/09/2026 at 1:00 PM
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