THE WORKS OF VOLTAIRE. Leather Set. Complete in 42 volumes. La Verite Edition. #540/700 DAMAGED/SOME COVERS DETACHED by Voltaire - 1901

Paris, London, New York, Chicago: E. R. DuMont, 1901. LA VERITE EDITION. Set #540 / 700. Complete in 42 volumes, as stated on the title pages. Illustrated with 168 full page plates. Bound in leather bindings. Gilded spines. Top edges are gilded. Marbled end papers. Rag paper. This is a high quality collection. These are large books. 8.75 inches tall. Well over 60 inches of shelf space. Includes original typed letter from Gerald Glass to America's Bookshop in New York, dated 1957, regarding the sale of these books. VERY GOOD+ internally, but with external general shelf wear, as shown. The hinges are all strongly attached, although there is some starting and some have been archivally reattached. SOME COVERS ARE DETACHED. Set is damaged. There is some general external wear and abrasion. Inscription in pencil on frontis tissue paper from parent to child about not letting these works influence negatively from Bible teachings. An exceptional set. Complete in 42 volumes. Limited to only 700 sets ever produced. These display beautifully. Voltaire was one of several Enlightenment figures (along with Montesquieu, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Emilie du Chatelet) whose works and ideas influenced important thinkers of both the American and French Revolutions. He was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, freedom of expression, free trade and separation of church and state. Voltaire was a prolific writer, producing works in almost every literary form, including plays, poetry, novels, essays, and historical and scientific works. He wrote more than 20,000 letters and more than 2,000 books and pamphlets. He was an outspoken supporter of social reform, despite strict censorship laws with harsh penalties for those who broke them. French writer, satirist, the embodiment of the 18th-century Enlightenment. Voltaire is remembered as a crusader against tyranny and bigotry. Compared to Rousseau's (1712-1778) rebelliousness and idealism, Voltaire's world view was more skeptical, but both of their ideas influenced deeply the French Revolution. Voltaire disliked Rousseau and wrote to him in 1761: "One feels like crawling on all fours after reading your work." "Liberty of thought is the life of the soul." (from Essay on Epic Poetry, 1727) Voltaire died in Paris on May 30, 1778, as the undisputed leader of the Age of Enlightenment. He had suffered throughout his life from poor health, but at the time of his death he was eighty-four. Voltaire left behind him over fourteen thousand known letters and over two thousand books and pamphlets. This set would make an excellent gift and/or addition to any fine library. In addition to their shelf presence, antiquarian books make an excellent investment. We always pack very securely to help ensure safe handling during transit. All books are individually wrapped and are always professionally padded. We offer a full refund guarantee, per our terms described on our site, with notification of such intent requested. Please contact us with any inquiries.