J.J. Rousseau Citoyen de Genève, à Christophe de Beaumont
Rousseau's first editions bound in contemporary armorial morocco are rare and sought after.
The very fine copy bound in morocco with the arms of Béatrix de Choiseul-Stainville (1730-1794), Duchess of Gramont, who was executed by guillotine.
Octavo, XL and 129 pp., (3) pp.; Havana morocco, triple gilt fillet bordering the covers, gilt arms stamped in the center, smooth decorated spine, gilt fillet on the edges, gilt inner roll, gilt edges. Contemporary binding.
178 x 118 mm.
Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Citizen of Geneva, to Christophe de Beaumont […] with his letter to the Council of Geneva.
Amsterdam, Marc-Michel Rey, 1763.
First edition.
Dufour, 214.
In August 1762, Émile was condemned by the Archbishop of Paris, Christophe de Beaumont, as a dangerous and heretical book. Rousseau had already left France under the threat of an arrest warrant issued by the Parliament of Paris. Rousseau secretly prepared the manuscript of his reply, Letter to Beaumont, and sent it to Marc-Michel Rey in Amsterdam. Around September 1763, M. M. Rey published the first edition.
“Why is it, Monseigneur, that I must have something to say to you?” The letter of protest that Rousseau sent to the Archbishop of Paris begins with a rhetorical question. But it expresses real indignation. As a citizen, he asserts his rights and defies civil or religious authority, giving us all even today a passionate lesson in secularism.
Rousseau replies to his adversary. He defends natural religion, considering himself sincerely Christian according to the teachings of Jesus Christ and not those of priests. He rejects original sin and miracles. He advocates for tolerance and freedom of thought.
Voltaire expressed his overall opinion in a letter to Helvétius [c. 15 May 1763]: "There are five or six excellent and most powerful pages in a little pamphlet that has recently appeared, which is struggling to get noticed in Paris and which you must have seen by now. It is a great pity that the author is constantly talking about himself, when he should only discuss useful matters. Its title is impertinently indecent, his ridiculous vanity is revolting. He is Diogenes, but sometimes he expresses himself like Plato. Would you believe that his bold attacks against a respected monster have not offended anyone and that his philosophy has found as many supporters as his cynical vanity has drawn critics?" (Best. D 11208).
Beautiful copy bearing the arms of Béatrix de Choiseul-Stainville, Duchess of Gramont (1730-1794).
Béatrix de Choiseul exerted great influence on her brother through her courage and masculine energy. On 16 August 1759, she married Antoine-Antonin, Duke of Gramont, Peer of France, Governor of Navarre and Béarn, of whom she was the second wife. She died on the scaffold on 17 April 1794.
Original Rousseau editions in contemporary armorial morocco are rare and sought after.
