Candide

Candide by Voltaire, First edition, first French published edition, Paris, 1759 $15,000

Voltaire did a brilliant job of getting this book out without the censors finding it. He had it published in 1759 in Geneva, London and Paris among other spots across Europe. The subject was so controversial (attacks on both Church and State) that publishing in Paris could result in Bastille prison time, something that Voltaire was familiar with. He published the book under the fictitious name Mr. le Docteur RALPH. Titled Candide, ou L’Optimisme, Traduit de L’Allemand. (Reference: Bengesco 1438 p.21 lendemin, page 45 is paginated as 25, page 123 is paginated as 223). One of thirteen publications of Candide in 1759 according to the New York Public Library (which has in its Rare Book Room all 13 of these editions which have been displayed on occasion but not allowed to touch). Book people like to touch their books. Museums are a joke for books. There is no feeling behind the glass. Now you can own a piece of Renaissance history and the greatest Voltaire work which is an all original complete Candide first French edition. Binding is an antique nineteenth century work which works well with the book and is in very good condition. This indeed is a classic piece of literature “found in the wild” in a Midwestern U.S. warehouse. Verified against New York Public Library 1759 complete editions and printer’s device on title page. This particular copy is first published in Voltaire’s Paris, France. Voltaire was French and these words were very dangerous to anyone caught with them in France. All bindings and joints are in very good shape. Virginia Woolf said about Candide: “100 pages which we will remember the rest of our lives.” For “Follow the Flag” collectors, this is the must have Candide copy (not Geneva, not London); we are talking about a leader of the Renaissance.