Voltaire Oeuvres Complete Works Kehl 1784-89 70 Volumes MOST IMPORTANT & FINEST EDITION OF VOLTAIRE;108 PLATES Start Price USD 3,666.00 Current Price USD 3,666.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, July 24, 2008 End Time Sunday, July 27, 2008 Location Ottawa, Ontario See more about 'Voltaire Oeuvres Complete Works Kehl 1784-89 70 Volumes' Description Offered is the rare and famous Kehl edition of the “Oeuvres Completes,” or complete works of Francois Marie Arouet de Voltaire, printed in 70 volumes under the direction of Beaumarchais and Condorcet in octavo in 1784 (volumes 1 to 69) and 1789 (volume 70) and attractively bound in early 19th century half red morocco. THIS IS THE FINEST AND MOST IMPORTANT EDITION OF VOLTAIRE’S WORKS EVER PRINTED, COMPLETE WITH 108 PLATES ENGRAVED BY MOREAU. BEAUMARCHAIS PURCHASED THE TYPE FOR THIS EDITION FROM JOHN BASKERVILLE. BRUNET CALLS THIS EDITION “THE MOST COMPLETE, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND THE MOST ORDERLY.” AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, THIS WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PUBLISHING PROJECT EVER UNDERTAKEN; IT INCLUDES THE FIRST APPEARANCE IN PRINT OF MOST OF VOLTAIRE’S LETTERS, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS THEATRICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. This set contains 108 engraved plates, including the portrait of Voltaire placed as the frontispiece of the first volume, and numerous other engraved scenes and portraits appropriate to the various works. Of course, the set includes all of Voltaire’s most famous works, including ‘Candide,’ ‘Zadig,’ the Philosophical Dictionary, the English Letters, his work upon Newton, his criticism of Corneille, his contributions to Diderot’s Encyclopedia, the complete plays and poems, and the biographies of Louis XIV and Peter the Great. The set is complete in all respects, including the oft-lacking 70th volume, which includes Condorcet’s ‘Life of Voltaire’; it does not include the 5 additional portraits sometimes found. The bindings are very attractive and generally in excellent condition; they are of red half morocco with marbled boards. The spines are divided by raised and gilt bands into 5 compartments; each spine gives the author’s name, the volume number and the contents of the volume in gilt. Each spine also bears the gilt arms of the Royal United Service Institution.There is occasional and light wear upon the edges and corners, and a couple of the bindings bear light marks of waterstaining. The front board of volume 3 is detached and held to the spine by tape; the front hinge of volume 70 is weak; otherwise, the bindings are very well preserved. Internally, most of the volumes are very bright and clean. Each volume bears the original artistic bookplate of Philip Sassoon (the bottom of each board bears his label, “Port Lympne”). There is occasional damp or water staining upon the first pages of a few of the volumes (never extending past the first few quires), and occasional foxing or browning upon a few quires; however, generally the pages are white, and the print is uniformly clear. The plates are excellent impressions throughout. Each volume measures about 22.0 cm by 15.0 cm by 4.1 cm; each page measures about 209 mm by 138 mm. In all, this is an excellent and very desirable set of the 1784-89 Kehl edition of Voltaire in 70 volumes, the finest edition ever printed of Voltaire’s works, complete, with 108 engraved plates including scenes and portraits, bound in early 19th century red half morocco, and offered at a reasonable reserve. Please take the time necessary to review the photos below in order to gain a better understanding of the content and condition of the volumes. Please also note that I am happy to provide surface shipping anywhere in the world at no cost. 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