Voltaire

1870 · 236914 — London: E. Truelove 1870. Nineteenth-century reprint. Modern rebind by Des Forges Books De Luxe Milwaukee in three-quarter red crushed morocco gilt ruled marbled endpapers teg ribbon markers. Gently toned spine mild soiling and foxing text block edges quarter-inch abrasion to vol. 2 ffep lightly foxed and unevenly toned throughout overall near fine still tight copy. Osborne Steeden engraved frontispieces. iv 48 614 2 ads; iii 621. 7.5" x 5" POCKET REVOLUTION<br /> <br /> Voltaire's magnum opus was originally published anonymously in 1764 as the articles critiqued the Catholic Church and other societal institutions. He sought to craft a shorter dictionary of articles concerning the Enlightenment that would have a smaller format so people could carry revolutionary ideas in their pockets.<br /> <br /> Around 1870 Edward Trulove the radical publisher and printer of this edition took up publishing Voltaire's dictionary for the humanist cause. He was brought to trial due to his belief in freedom of speech and staunch atheism refusing to swear the Christian oath on the stand. Social reform thinkers like Florence Nightingale frequented his bookshop.<br /> <br /> This copy is a neat Des Forges Books De Luxe rebind with striking red marbled endpapers. E. Truelove unknown