Le Nazareen, ou le Christianisme des juifs, des gentils et des Mahométans. Traduit de l’anglois (The Nazarene, or the Christianity of Jews, Gentiles, and Muslims, Translated from the English) [FIRST FRENCH EDITION OF TOLAND'S NAZARENUS - bound with two treatises by Voltaire:] Un Chretien contre six Juifs (A Christian against Six Jews) [and:] Le Taureau blanc, traduit du Syriaque (The White Bull, Translated from the Syriac)
[disguised addresses]: 1774. Hardcover. Three works in sammelband, published between 1774 and 1777, octavo. I. A-V8 (= 160 leaves); xlvii, [1, blank], 261 (p. 160 blank), [1, avertissement], [9, table], [1, errata]pp. Half title, separate title precedes the two letters, each letter with caption title; II. pi, A-L8 M6 (= 94 leaves); [2], 188pp. (p. 28 misnumbered 82), errata at verso title; III. A-C8 (= 24 leaves); 48pp. Eighteenth-century cat’s paw calf, spine with raised bands, compartments tooled in gilt, morocco lettering piece. Marbled endleaves, edges tinted red, green silk ribbon marker. Mild wear at extremities, occasional light marginal foxing in early leaves, a nearly fine set, in a handsome contemporary binding.
I. J. Toland, Le Nazareen, Londres, [n.p.], MDCCLXXVII [1777]. First French edition of Nazarenus, originally published at London in 1718, here translated by Paul Henri Theri, Baron d’Holbach (1723-89). The Irish freethinker and philosopher, John Toland (1670-1722) here proposes “... that the ancient Celtic beliefs revealed in an Irish manuscript of the four gospels captured the true spirit of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam” (Stephen H. Daniel, ODNB). A false imprint, possibly printed at Amsterdam. ESTC T104300. Weller, E. O. Falschen Druckorte II (1864), p. 203 (noting Amsterdam). Jonathan Israel ranks Nazarenus among Toland’s more significant writings: “... [H]is astounding quasi-theological project... in which he seeks to dechristianize Christianity and remodel it as a republican civic religion designed only to teach the common people morality, demonstrate his original, creative side and some depth” (Radical Enlightenment, 613).
II. Voltaire, Un Chrétien contre six Juifs, Londres, [n.p.]: MDCCLXXVII [1777] - Bengesco 1860, with nearly 4 pages of notes. Published in 1778, our copy is chap. XIV of L’Evangile du jour (1769-80), an 18-part collection of works by or published by Voltaire; see Bengesco 1904. N.B.: On page 28, a single 3-1/2 line sentence treating the Chinese has been struck out. The printed text which immediately follows reprints the sentence with an abridged ending.
III. Voltaire, Le Taureau blanc, traduit du Syriac, A Memphis, [n.p]: MDCCLXXIV [1774] - Also from L’Evangile du jour - Cf. Bengesco 1509. Our edition is complete. Bengesco notes that this printing of Le Taureau is often found separate. Nearly Fine. Item #49131
Price: $1,250.00