Research Catalog

Title

The works of M. de Voltaire / translated from the French, with notes, critical and explanatory, by William Campbell, LL.D., J. Johnson, M.A. and others ; under the direction of W. Kenrick, LL.D.

Author

Voltaire, 1694-1778.

Publication

London : Printed for Fielding and Walker, Pater-Noster Row, MDCCLXXIX-MDCCLXXX [1779-1780]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Kenrick, W. (William), 1725?-1779.
• Campbell, William, active 1778-1781.
• Johnson, John, active 1778-1781.
• Williams, David, 1738-1816.
• Downman, Hugh, 1740-1809.
• Griffith, Richard, -1788.
• Griffith, Elizabeth, 1727-1793.
• Parry, James, active 1778-1781.
• Cook, Thomas, approximately 1744-1818
• Jenkins, D., active 1780-1788
• Ryder, Thomas, 1746-1810
• Sharp, William, 1749-1824
• Fielding and Walker, publisher
• Martin J. Gross Collection
• Britten Memorial Library, former owner

Description

5 v. : ports.; 22 cm (8vo)

Alternative Title

• Works of the late M. de Voltaire
• Essay on the manners and spirit of nations
• Gen. hist.
• General history

Subjects

• History > Philosophy
• Voltaire, 1694-1778 > Criticism and interpretation
• Voltaire, 1694-1778 > Correspondence
• World history > Early works to 1800
• Europe > History > Early works to 1800

Note

• Variant (cancel) title page reads: The works of the late M. de Voltaire / translated from the French, with notes, critical and explanatory, by the Rev. David Williams, Hugh Downman, M.A., William Campbell, LL.D., Richard Griffith, Esq., Elizabeth Griffith, James Parry, M.A., and John Johnson, M.A. London : Printed for Fielding and Walker, Pater-Noster Row, MDCCLXXX.
• In fact a selection of Voltaire's works. Only these 5 volumes, comprising a translation of Essai sur les mœurs et l'esprit des nations with an introductory volume, have general title page beginning "The works ..." Ten further volumes, each with special t.p. only, were published in 1779-1781 to accompany this set: Miscellanies; A treatise on toleration; The age of Louis XIV (3 v.); The history of Charles XII; Annals of the Empire; Dramatic works (2 v.); Philosophical, literary and historical pieces.
• Copies are found with both title pages. Kenrick's name was reportedly removed from the statement of responsibility at the insistence of David Williams. Cf. Dyikowski, J. On burning ground. Oxford, 1993, p. 305; cf. also letter from "Petronius," General advertiser and morning intelligencer (London), July 8, 1779.
• The translation of the Essay on the manners and spirit of nations is credited to Campbell and Johnson in contemporary advertising, e.g. in the London courant and Westminster chronicle, Dec. 4, 1779.
• Originally published in weekly numbers beginning in October 1778; subsequently available in weekly numbers or as bound volumes, of which 8 had been published by December 1779 (these 5 and Miscellanies; A treatise on toleration; and The age of Louis XIV, v. 1). Cf. contemporary advertisements, e.g. in the London chronicle, Oct. 20-22, 1778; in the London courant and Westminster chronicle, Dec. 4, 1779.
• The introductory volume, containing the Historical commentary on the works of the author of the Henriade, Original letters and the Preliminary discourse, was originally published as v. 1; later reissued as v. 5. The 4 v. containing the Essay on the manners and spirit of nations were originally published as v. 2-5; later reissued as v. 1-4. Cf. advertisements in the London chronicle, Nov. 21-24, 1778, and in the London courant and Westminster chronicle, Dec. 4, 1779. Cf. also Evans (who calls v. 1 "one of the two volumes of Miscellanies").
• Section title following t.p. in the 4 vols. containing the Essay: An essay on the manners and spirit of nations, and on the principal occurrences in history from Charlemagne to Louis XIII. Vol. I[-Vol. IV].
• Signatures: Vol. 1 (or v. 5): A-3L⁴. Vol. 2-5 (or v. 1-4): [A]² B-3D⁴ 3E⁴(-3E4); [A]² B-3D⁴ 3E²; [A]² B-3E⁴; [A]² B-3D⁴ a-b⁴ c² d-g⁴ h².
• Illustrations: Full-page engraved ports. of Voltaire, Pope Clement XIV, Henry IV, Shakespeare, Cardinal Wolsey, Sir Thomas More, Sir Walter Raleigh, engraved by T. Cook, D. Jenkins, T. Ryder and W. Sharp.
• Vol. 4 of the Essay on the manners and spirit of nations includes indexes to v. 1-4 ([56] p. at end).

Indexed In (note)

• ESTC
• Evans, H.B. English Voltaire bib. (Studies on Voltaire and the eighteenth century 8 (1959): 9-121)
• Rousseau, A.M. Éditions anglaises de Voltaire. (In his L'Angleterre et Voltaire, p. 976-1032)
• Williams, D. Bib. of the printed works of David Williams. (National Library of Wales journal 10 (1957): 121-136)

Provenance (note)

• Mary Parsons (autographs); Britten Memorial Library (bookplates)

Binding (note)

• Contemporary tree calf, gilt; red and brown morocco spine labels. Binder's title: Voltaire's works. Vol. I[-V].

Contents

v. 1 [or v. 5]. Preface. An historical commentary on the works of the author of the Henriade, with the addition of many original letters. Original letters of Mr. de Voltaire. Preliminary discourse to the Essay on the manners and spirit of nations. [8], 206, [5], 210-444, [2] p., [2] leaves of plates. Errata: p. [445]. -- v. 2-5 [or v. 1-4]. An essay on the manners and spirit of nations, and on the principal occurrences in history from Charlemagne to Louis XIII. [4], 328, 327-396 p., [1] leaf of plates; [4], 396 p.; [4], 400 p., [4] leaves of plates; [4], 391, [1], [56] p.

Call Number

*KGV 13-53

OCLC

316357214

Author

Voltaire, 1694-1778.

Title

The works of M. de Voltaire / translated from the French, with notes, critical and explanatory, by William Campbell, LL.D., J. Johnson, M.A. and others ; under the direction of W. Kenrick, LL.D.

Imprint

London : Printed for Fielding and Walker, Pater-Noster Row, MDCCLXXIX-MDCCLXXX [1779-1780]

Indexed In:

ESTC N25911, T137893

Evans, H.B. English Voltaire bib. (Studies on Voltaire and the eighteenth century 8 (1959): 9-121), [2], p. 31-33

Rousseau, A.M. Éditions anglaises de Voltaire. (In his L'Angleterre et Voltaire, p. 976-1032), 7¹, 7⁴

Williams, D. Bib. of the printed works of David Williams. (National Library of Wales journal 10 (1957): 121-136), 16

Binding

Contemporary tree calf, gilt; red and brown morocco spine labels. Binder's title: Voltaire's works. Vol. I[-V]. NN

Provenance

Mary Parsons (autographs); Britten Memorial Library (bookplates) NN

Local Note

Rare Books copy: Vols. 1-4, dated 1780, have variant t.p., "The works of the late M. de Voltaire ... Vol. I[-IV]," and contain the Essay on the manners and spirit of nations. Vol. [5], dated 1779, is the introductory volume, with t.p.: "The works of M. de Voltaire ... Vol. I." Only v. 3 has the section title.

Rare Books copy: Indexes to v. 1-4 of the Essay on the manners and spirit of nations bound separately with v. 1-4, respectively. Plates wanting, except port. of Voltaire, but all but port. of Henry IV included in a made-up separate volume accompanying this set. Number of plates supplied from Evans.

Martin J. Gross Collection.

Connect to:

Request access to this item in the Schwarzman Rare Books Collection

Place of Publication

England London.

Added Author

Voltaire, 1694-1778. Essai sur les moeurs et l'esprit des nations. English.

Voltaire, 1694-1778. Correspondence. Selections. English.

Voltaire, 1694-1778. Commentaire historique sur les œuvres de l'auteur de la Henriade. English.

Kenrick, W. (William), 1725?-1779.

Campbell, William, active 1778-1781.

Johnson, John, active 1778-1781.

Williams, David, 1738-1816.

Downman, Hugh, 1740-1809.

Griffith, Richard, -1788.

Griffith, Elizabeth, 1727-1793.

Parry, James, active 1778-1781.

Cook, Thomas, approximately 1744-1818, engraver.

Jenkins, D., active 1780-1788, engraver.

Ryder, Thomas, 1746-1810, engraver.

Sharp, William, 1749-1824, engraver.

Fielding and Walker, publisher.

Martin J. Gross Collection.

Britten Memorial Library, former owner.

Research Call Number

*KGV 13-53