VoltaireBiblio.com
2009Best.-Nr. SKU0604412Broadview Press 2009-07-30. paperback. Good. 8x0x5. Textbook May Have Highlights Notes and/or Underlining BOOK ONLY-NO ACCESS CODE NO CD Ships with Tracking Broadview Press paperback
2009Best.-Nr. SKU0651919Broadview Press 2009-07-30. paperback. New. 8x0x5. New Textbook Ships with Tracking Broadview Press paperback
2007Best.-Nr. SKU0651923Hackett Publishing Company Inc 2007-03-15. paperback. New. 5x0x8. New Textbook Ships with Tracking Hackett Publishing Company, Inc paperback
2005Best.-Nr. SKU0651916Simon & Schuster 2005-06-01. Mass Market Paperback. New. 4x0x6. New Textbook Ships with Tracking Simon & Schuster paperback
1979Best.-Nr. 230650Franklin Center.: Franklin Library. 1979. First edition thus. Gilt decorated hardcover. Green leather. Gilt edges. Fine copy. 4to. Illustrated by Antoni Clave. Very scarce in this condition. Franklin Library. hardcover
2022Best.-Nr. 1-0729412296LUP – Voltaire Foundation 2022. Hardcover. New. 460 pages. French language. 9.00x6.00x1.50 inches. LUP – Voltaire Foundation hardcover
2013Best.-Nr. SONG2070111334GALLIMARD 2013-05-20. hardcover. Used: Good. 4.53x1.42x7.05. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy. GALLIMARD hardcover
1733Best.-Nr. 61360London 1733. 8vo. Bound in a lovely contemporary English Cambridge-style full calf binding with a plain spine with five raised bands. Spine a bit cracked vertically and with minor loss to capitals. Corners a bit bumped and adges of boards a bit worn. Binding overall nice and tight. Small damp stain at the lower blank corner of the first few leaves otherwise a very good clean copy on thick crisp paper. 16 -including preface contents advertisements 253 1 18 -Index pp. The important actual first edition of this highly celebrated key work of the Enlightenment in which the anecdote of how Newton discovered gravity the story about Newton and the falling apple appeared for the first time together with the description of the difference between the physical world view of the English and the French the "plenum" and the "vacuum". This seminal work in which Voltaire famously depicts British philosophy science society and culture in comparison to French can be viewed as the Enlightenment equivalent to Tocqueville's "Democracy in America". This series of essays which is based on Voltaire's experiences when living in England was actually written by Voltaire mostly in English which he mastered to perfection. It has often been presumed that the first edition of the work was that published in French in 1734 but actually the present English edition constitutes the actual first appearance of the work as well as the version that is closest to Voltaire's intention as the French language version is the re-written one and the English version the original. Curiously almost all modern English versions are translations into English of the French edition instead of the original English version making this edition of the utmost importance.After the original English edition of 1733 two French editions soon followed the first in 1734. Unlike the British the French resented the book and already in 1734 the French Parliament issued an order for the author's arrest and condemned the work causing the impact of it in France to be delayed. The book was burned for being "dangerous to religion and civil order". At the same time the work became a bestseller in Britain and as much as 14 editions of the work were published in the eighteenth century. "Inspired by Voltaire's two-year stay in England 1726-8 this is one of the key works of the Enlightenment. Exactly contemporary with Gulliver's Travels and The Beggar's Opera Voltaire's controversial pronouncements on politics philosophy religion and literature have placed the Letters among the great Augustan satires. Voltaire wrote most of the book in English in which he was fluent and witty and it fast became a bestseller in Britain. He re-wrote it in French as the Lettres philosophiques and current editions in English translate his French." Nicholas Cronk Introduction to the Oxford's Classics edition from 1999.The great French philosopher Voltaire was greatly impressed by the philosophical and scientific achievements of the English especially those of Newton Locke and Bacon. As a disseminator of scientific knowledge Voltaire came to play a great rôle in the popularization of Newtonian science and its discoveries the present work being a prime example. Although the work was condemned by the French authorities it still came to play a great rôle in the spreading of Newtonian ideas in France. The present work generally came to play a dominant rôle in Enlightenment accounts of the history of science and philosophy. The work focuses on British science and thought and uses the accounts of these to emphasize what is lacking in French society and French thought. The work is generally very critical towards the French "ancient régime" and when Voltaire here discusses the emergence of empiricism it is viewed as an English tradition that stands in opposition to the French rationalist tradition with Descartes as the prime example. This view is taken over by the following Enlightenment historians of science and philosophy e.g. d'Alembert see for instance his "Preliminary Discourse" of 1751. Some of the most influential passages of the work are probably those on Bacon who Voltaire sees as the founder of modern experimental science Newton and Descartes. Letters XIV on Descartes and Newton XV on attraction and XVI on Newton's Optics from 1704 are among the most influential essays of the work. In XVI Voltaire reflects upon Newton's "Optics" and the way that he rejected Descartes' theory and set out his own account of the properties of light. In XV he presents the first account of Newton and the falling apple: "As he was walking one Day in his Garden and saw some Fruits fall from a Tree he fell into profound Meditation on that Gravity the Cause of which had so long been sought but in vain by all the Philosophers whilst the Vulgar think there is nothing mysterious in it. He said to himself that from what height soever in our Hemisphere those Bodies might descend their Fall wou'd certainly be in the Progression discover'd by Galileo; and the Spaces they run thro' would be as the Square of the Times. Why may not this Power which causes heavy Bodies to descend and is the fame without any sensible Diminution at the remotest Distance from the Center of the Earth or on the Summits of the highest Mountains; Why said Sir Isaac may not this Power extend as high as the Moon." pp. 127-28.But perhaps the most famous passage in the volume is the opening of Letter XIV: "A Frenchman who arrives in London will find Philosophy like every Thing else very much chang'd there. He had left the World a "plenum" and he now finds it a "vacuum". At Paris the Universe is seen compos'd of Vortices of subtile Matter; but nothing like it is seen in London. In France 'tis the Pressure of the Moon that causes the Tides; but in England 'tis the Sea that gravitates towards the Moon; so that when you think that the Moon should make it Flood with us those Gentlemen fancy it should be Ebb which very unluckily cannot be prov'd." pp. 109-10. hardcover
2016Best.-Nr. 1-131904901XBedford/st Martins 2016. Paperback. New. 2nd edition. 160 pages. 8.00x5.25x0.25 inches. Bedford/st Martins paperback
1945Best.-Nr. 293861945. Paris Les Editions nationales 1945. Un vol. au format in-4 288 x 232 mm de 234 pp. broch sous couverture rabats remplis et tui-chemise de plein cartonnage crÂme dos lisse piÂce de titre contrecolle sertie d'un double filet en noir. Un des 500 exemplaires numrots du tirage sur pur-fil Johannot second papier aprÂs les 100 de tÂte sur vlin d'Arches. L'ouvrage s'agrmente - ici en premier tirage - de 52 eaux-fortes dont 12 hors-texte de Jean-Louis Viard. ''Le rythme de Voltaire est lui et insparable de la forme de son esprit. En dpit qu'en aient les renchris et les ergoteurs ce voltairianisme dont les pages qui vont suivre sont la fleur est bien la cration de Voltaire comme sa langue''. Absent de Monod Manuel de l'amateur de livres illustrs modernes. Marques d'eau et claires rousseurs affectant l'tui-chemise. Du reste trÂs belle condition. Peu courant. b42961 unknown
2005Best.-Nr. 1-0300106556Yale Univ Pr 2005. Hardcover. New. 132 pages. 8.50x5.75x0.75 inches. Yale Univ Pr hardcover
1790Best.-Nr. 44041790. : 65 . 3 Blank pages / Frontispiece / Title Page / 2 NNP / 264 Pages / 2 After blanks Binding: Contemporary Full Leather 32mo Height cm: 125 CM Width cm: 77 CM Thickness cm: 2 CM hardcover
1919Best.-Nr. 044164The Pioneer Press 1919. Soft cover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. 'A Freethought Classic' Soft covers some handling and marks First Series. 3 lines in ink to inner face of front cover. The Pioneer Press paperback
1983Best.-Nr. 83242Paris: Gallimard Bibliothèque de La Pléiade 1983. Fine. Gallimard Bibliothèque de La Pléiade Paris 1983 10.50 x 18 cm reliure de l'éditeur sous étui souple et cartonné First edition. Publisher's full brown grained sheep binding orange top edge smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets. Rich iconography. Handsome copy complete with its dust jacket cellophane wrapper and soft slipcase. Gallimard, Bibliothèque de La Pléiade unknown
1992Best.-Nr. 1-067941746XAlfred a Knopf Inc 1992. Hardcover. New. 368 pages. 8.25x5.25x1.00 inches. Alfred a Knopf Inc hardcover
1785Best.-Nr. 271201785. pages de titre absentes - Kehl de l'Imprimerie de la socit littraire typographique 1785. 3 vol. au format in-12 177 x 113 mm de 1 f. bl. 368 pp. et 1 f. bl. ; 1 f. bl. 415 pp. et 1 f. bl. ; 1 f. bl. 412 pp. et 1 f. bl. Reliures uniformes de l'poque de plein veau glac porphyre guirlande fleuronn dore encadrant les plats dos lisses richement orns d'un filet d'encadrement dors caissons d'encadrement dors caissons dentels dors roulettes dores larges fleurons dors semis de pointills dors piÂces de titre de maroquin bÂne piÂce de tomaison de maroquin fauve titre dor tomaison dore palette dore en tÂte et queue jeu de petits filets obliques dors sur les coupes tranches jaspes. Ensemble - sous reliures dcoratives du temps - complet des trois volumes constituant Le SiÂcle de Louis XIV ; ici propos dans la clÂbre dition des Oeuvres complÂtes de Voltaire tablie par les soins et aux frais Beaumarchais dite dition de Kehl. ''Cette clÂbre dition tait la plus complÂte la plus belle et la mieux ordonne qui et paru jusqu'alors des Oeuvres de Voltaire. C'est sous le point de vue typographique que Beaumarchais mrite des loges''. in Brunet. ''Amour extrÂme de la vrit et impartialit entiÂre sur toutes les matiÂres qui y sont traites caractrisent cet ouvrage lequel recÂle plus de faits intressants et plus d'anecdotes curieuses que dans les collections immenses qu'on nous a donnes jusqu'ici sur le rÂgne de Louis XIV. Dans cette dition on verra de nouvelles particularits sur l'Homme au masque de fer sur la cour de Louis XIV sur la paix de Riswick sur la maniÂre de Louis XIV reconnut le fils de Jacques II sur le testament de Charles II et enfin jusqu' des mmoires trÂs curieux crits de la propre main du feu Roi.'' in Avertissement de l'Editeur. Car s'intresser l'poque moderne c'est reconnatre une fonction l'histoire : celle d'aider les contemporains comprendre pour agir et peser leur tour sur le destin du monde. Ce sont donc eux qu'il faut intresser et l'crivain y russit merveilleusement en mettant au service du mtier d'historien son talent de conteur et de dramaturge mais aussi de causeur spirituel. C'est ce brio qui nous sduit encore : rien ici qui pÂse ou qui pose.'' Graesse VII Trsor de livres rares et prcieux p. 390 - Brunet V Manuel du libraire et de l'amateur de livres 1353 - Cioranescu III Bibliographie de la littrature franÂaise du XVIIIÂme siÂcle 63884 - Rahir La BibliothÂque de l'amateur p. 679. Angles lims. Quelques frottements et abrasions pouvant affecter les reliures. Pages de titre absentes. Quelques rousseurs ou tches claires dans les corps d'ouvrages. Du reste bonne condition. b42961 unknown
1785Best.-Nr. 271221785. pages de titre absentes - Kehl de l'Imprimerie de la socit littraire typographique 1785. 2 vol. au format in-12 177 x 113 mm de 1 f. bl. 428 pp. et 1 f. bl. ; 1 f. bl. 399 pp. et 1 f. bl. Reliures uniformes de l'poque de plein veau glac porphyre guirlande fleuronn dore encadrant les plats dos lisses richement orns d'un filet d'encadrement dors caissons d'encadrement dors caissons dentels dors roulettes dores larges fleurons dors semis de pointills dors piÂces de titre de maroquin bÂne piÂce de tomaison de maroquin fauve titre dor tomaison dore palette dore en tÂte et queue jeu de petits filets obliques dors sur les coupes tranches jaspes. Ensemble - sous reliures dcoratives du temps - complet des deux volumes constituant Les Annales de l'Empire ; ici proposs dans la clÂbre dition des Oeuvres complÂtes de Voltaire tablie par les soins et aux frais Beaumarchais dite dition de Kehl. ''Cette clÂbre dition tait la plus complÂte la plus belle et la mieux ordonne qui et paru jusqu'alors des Oeuvres de Voltaire. C'est sous le point de vue typographique que Beaumarchais mrite des loges''. in Brunet. ''Cet ouvrage ne manque pas d'intrÂt pour ce qui concerne la conception de son auteur pour ce qui relÂve de l'volution des socits. L'ouvrage contient un vritable panorama des faits non seulement militaires politiques et religieux mais aussi sociaux.'' B. Bernard in Dictionnaire Voltaire p. 20. Graesse VII Trsor de livres rares et prcieux p. 390 - Brunet V Manuel du libraire et de l'amateur de livres 1353 - Cioranescu III Bibliographie de la littrature franÂaise du XVIIIÂme siÂcle 63884 - Rahir La BibliothÂque de l'amateur p. 679. Angles lims. LgÂres altrations superficielles affectant les reliures. Pages de titre absentes. Quelques rousseurs ou tches claires dans les corps d'ouvrages. Nonobstant bonne condition. b42961 unknown
1770Best.-Nr. 81957à Paris: Chez La veuve DuchesneSaillantDesaint 1770. Fine. Chez La veuve Duchesne Saillant Desaint à Paris 1770 11.80 x 18.50 cm 2 volumes reliés New illustrated edition with first printing by Eisen of a frontispiece an engraved title with the author's portrait in medallion 10 figures and 10 headpieces all engraved by De Longueil. Volume II contains variants and notes: L'essai sur la poésie épique poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne; Poème sur la loi naturelle etc. This edition was partly revised by Voltaire. The publishers' notice announces this edition as the only complete one since there are more than 50 new verses scattered throughout the work. Contemporary full red morocco binding. Smooth spine decorated in grotesque style. Brown morocco title label olive morocco volume label. Triple fillet frame on covers with corner fleurons. Interior fillet. All edges gilt. Traces of rubbing. Some light foxing in margins and verso of certain engravings. Superb copy rare in this condition. Very fine illustration by Eisen. Complete and critical edition with notes from different editions for each canto Marmontel's preface the author's letter of thanks to Eisen. Chez La veuve DuchesneSaillantDesaint unknown
1795Best.-Nr. 82690Paris: Didot le jeune 1795. Fine. Didot le jeune Paris An III 1795 26 x 35.50 cm 2 volumes reliés Illustrated edition with frontispiece to the first volume of a portrait of Joan of Arc drawn by Gaucher as well as 21 figures drawn by Lebarbier Marillier Monnet Monsiau all engraved by Baquoy Choffard Delignon Delvaux Duhamel Dupréel Lemire Lingée Malbeste Patas Pauquet Ponce and Romanet. Half black shagreen bindings smooth spines decorated with blind fillets some rubbing to headcaps and joints marbled paper boards marbled endpapers and pastedowns. Some minor foxing. Didot le jeune hardcover
1768Best.-Nr. 156969London: Printed for Robert UriePrinted for T. Backet and P. A. d'Hondt 1768. One of three editions in English of Voltaire's only publication on a distinctly economic subject "an immortal satire on physiocracy" Higgs published the same year as the original French language edition published in Geneva the others published in Glasgow and in Dublin. Directed against the physiocracts and against Le Mercier de la Rivière's Ordre naturel et essentiel des sociétés in particular L'Homme aux quarante écus is "the history of the owner of a small estate yielding a net income of forty crowns a year who has been frightened by the appearance of several edicts promulgated 'by a few gentlemen who having some leisure have undertaken to govern the kingdom from their firesides'" Palgrave. Octavo 209 x 126 mm. Twentieth century half calf and marbled boards spine ruled gilt red morocco label sprinkled edges. Occasional light spotting; a very good copy. Goldsmiths' 10405; Higgs 4515; Kress 6597. For the original edition see Bengesco 1478. hardcover
1929Best.-Nr. 78211Paris: A l'enseigne du Pot Cassé 1929. Fine. A l'enseigne du Pot Cassé Paris 1929 12.50 x 19 cm broché New edition one of 50 numbered copies on Japan paper deluxe issue. Handsome copy despite the spine showing two small traces of sunning at head and foot. Work illustrated with wood engravings in head- and tailpieces by Henry Chapront. A l'enseigne du Pot Cassé unknown
2021Best.-Nr. DADAX1684482925Bucknell University Press 2021-06-18. hardcover. New. 6.13x1.60x9.25. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy. Bucknell University Press hardcover
2021Best.-Nr. SONG1684482917Bucknell University Press 2021-06-18. Bilingual. paperback. Used: Good. 6.13x1.30x9.25. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy. Bucknell University Press paperback
2021Best.-Nr. SONG1684482925Bucknell University Press 2021-06-18. hardcover. Used: Good. 6.13x1.60x9.25. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy. Bucknell University Press hardcover
1927Best.-Nr. 78245Paris: A l'enseigne du Pot Cassé 1927. Fine. A l'enseigne du Pot Cassé Paris 1927 12.50 x 19 cm broché New edition one of 50 numbered copies on Japan paper deluxe issue. Handsome copy. Work illustrated with wood engravings in head- and tailpieces by Geneviève Rostan. A l'enseigne du Pot Cassé unknown
