![[VOLTAIRE, François Marie Arouet de (1694-1778).] Candide ou L'Optimisme, traduit de l'allemand de Mr. le Docteur Ralph. [Geneva: Gabriel Cramer,] 1759.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2017/CKS/2017_CKS_14301_0181_000(voltaire_francois_marie_arouet_de_candide_ou_loptimisme_traduit_de_lal032521).jpg?w=1)
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[VOLTAIRE, François Marie Arouet de (1694-1778).] Candide ou L'Optimisme, traduit de l'allemand de Mr. le Docteur Ralph. [Geneva: Gabriel Cramer,] 1759.
The true first edition of Voltaire's famed philosophical tale, ‘the fullest expression of the intellectual life of Voltaire and his century’ (Wade). The complexity of its clandestine publication is evident from the fact Wade lists 16 editions, all of which appeared without an imprint, but with a date of 1759. This copy conforms to Wade’s ‘authoritative edition’, having the following issue points: p.103, line 4, contains the misprint 'que ce ce fut'; p. 125, line 4, has ‘précisément’; p.31 is without the unnecessary paragraph break preceding ‘mais il y a’; p.41 has the variant ‘Car, dit-il, tout ceci est…’; p.242 does not contain the paragraph beginning ‘Candide était affligé’. PMM 204; Pomeau 299G; Wade 1.
12mo (155 x 90mm). Woodcut title vignette, head- and tailpieces (without blank N7 and N8 'Avis au Relieur' leaf as usual, a few light spots or stains). Modern half calf over speckled boards, spine gilt, red edges, marbled endpapers.
The true first edition of Voltaire's famed philosophical tale, ‘the fullest expression of the intellectual life of Voltaire and his century’ (Wade). The complexity of its clandestine publication is evident from the fact Wade lists 16 editions, all of which appeared without an imprint, but with a date of 1759. This copy conforms to Wade’s ‘authoritative edition’, having the following issue points: p.103, line 4, contains the misprint 'que ce ce fut'; p. 125, line 4, has ‘précisément’; p.31 is without the unnecessary paragraph break preceding ‘mais il y a’; p.41 has the variant ‘Car, dit-il, tout ceci est…’; p.242 does not contain the paragraph beginning ‘Candide était affligé’. PMM 204; Pomeau 299G; Wade 1.
12mo (155 x 90mm). Woodcut title vignette, head- and tailpieces (without blank N7 and N8 'Avis au Relieur' leaf as usual, a few light spots or stains). Modern half calf over speckled boards, spine gilt, red edges, marbled endpapers.
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