Voltaire - Dieu et les Hommes [copie manucrite] - 1768

Voltaire. God and Men, a Theological but Reasonable Work. By Doctor Orben. Translated by Jacques Aimon. Undated (circa 1768 or earlier).

1 volume in-12 (17.5 x 11 cm). 2 leaves (title and table), 145 pages, 2 blank leaves (complete). Green paper cover.

Manuscript copy of God and Men by Voltaire, whose original edition appeared anonymously in 1769. Composed in ink, with fine handwriting on good laid paper, in excellent condition. A work of great importance in the struggle Voltaire had engaged against religion.

No manuscript of God and Men is referenced in public libraries, neither in France nor abroad; old and recent catalogues are equally silent on the existence of manuscripts of Voltaire's God and Men.

It is very likely an earlier version of the text of the original edition, yet close to the final text intended by Voltaire.

It can be noted that:

- The manuscript has on every page notices aimed at helping the printer in assembling the book; it is in a state close to the final version to be handed to the printer.

- The manuscript contains textual differences with the printed original of 1769: from the first chapter, an entire paragraph is missing compared with the 1769 edition; one can also note words not present in the printed original (chapter 2, chapter 3, etc.) as well as proofreading corrections. (Of course, the entirety of the manuscript would need to be compared to reveal all the small differences.)

- The manuscript is undated, which is logical for a copy made before the original; the printing date was not yet known.

- The errata that appear in the 1769 original edition are not present in the manuscript, which supports that the manuscript would be earlier than 1769, the errata existing only at the time of correcting the first impressions, and the errors it mentions are present in the manuscript.

It is quite possible that this manuscript was commissioned by Voltaire to one of his copyists, in a version close to the final state, which was still revised before printing. It is also known that Voltaire often gave manuscripts of his works to close associates before publication.

A manuscript of great interest and great rarity, presenting a version not yet definitive of the text, but still quite close to its final state.