F. Joubert - Commentaire sur l’Apocalypse (First Edition) - 1762

VISIONS OF THE END: THEOLOGICAL EXEGESIS AND PROPHECY IN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY FRANCE

Printed in papal Avignon in 1762, this first edition of François Joubert’s Commentaire sur l’Apocalypse is a scarce and intellectually fascinating eighteenth-century interpretation of the Book of Revelation, in which Christian revelation, theological exegesis, ecclesiastical history and prophetic language converge. Through its examination of the Beast, Babylon, the Last Judgement and the destiny of the Church and the world, the work transforms the powerful imagery of the Johannine text into a far-reaching meditation on sacred history.

The commentary reflects the spiritual tensions of its age: the desire for doctrinal rigour coexists with the search for symbolic interpretations capable of explaining the trials, renewal and ultimate destiny of the Church. Rooted in the intellectual world of French Jansenism, Joubert’s reading does not restrict the Apocalypse to a distant final catastrophe, but interprets its visions in relation to successive periods in the history and future destiny of the Church.

Its place of publication is especially significant. In 1762, Avignon was still a papal possession on the edge of the Kingdom of France and a distinctive Catholic printing centre. This setting makes the book an important witness to the eschatological and prophetic culture of the mid-eighteenth century.

Published only one year before Joubert’s death, this is the first edition, complete in the two volumes issued and preserved in matching contemporary full-calf bindings with blue-green patterned fore-edges.

RARITY AND COLLECTOR’S INTEREST
Commentaire sur l’Apocalypse is scarce in the antiquarian trade, particularly as a complete two-volume set preserved in uniform contemporary bindings. Individual volumes are encountered more frequently than complete sets.

The work was published anonymously, but its authorship is firmly established: the Bibliothèque nationale de France attributes it to Abbé François Joubert, while auction and institutional catalogues identify the Avignon printing of 1762 as the first edition.

Its collector interest lies in the combination of subject, intellectual context and material preservation: an extensive eighteenth-century French commentary devoted entirely to Revelation, connected with Jansenist prophetic thought and preserved here in both volumes with their matching period bindings.

THE AUTHOR
François Joubert was born in Montpellier in 1689 and died in Paris in 1763. A French priest and biblical exegete, he published works on the Psalms, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, the minor prophets, sacred chronology and the history of Israel.

His involvement in the Jansenist cause led to his imprisonment in the Bastille in 1730 and his subsequent exile to Montpellier. This religious and intellectual background helps explain the historical and prophetic character of his biblical writings.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION

François Joubert, Commentaire sur l’Apocalypse.

Avignon, chez Alexandre Girard, 1762.

First edition. Complete in two volumes. French text with biblical passages in Latin. Format: in-12.

Volume I: title leaf, XLVI pages of preliminary matter, errata leaf and 375 pages.

Volume II: title leaf and 468 pages.

Total: 889 numbered pages, plus the unnumbered title and errata leaves.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Matching contemporary full-calf bindings. Spines with raised bands, gilt-tooled compartments and gilt-lettered title and volume labels. The fore-edges are decorated in blue-green with a patterned design, now partially faded.

CONDITION
Good overall condition for its age.

The contemporary leather bindings show rubbing, surface abrasions and areas of tonal variation. There is expected wear to the board edges, corners, joints and spine ends. The gilt decoration is rubbed and faded in places, but the spine tooling and labels remain visible and legible. The bindings remain intact and serviceable.

Internally clean and well preserved. The paper shows light natural toning and occasional minor marks consistent with age. Printing remains clear, the margins are well preserved and the text blocks are sound, with the leaves securely held.

The blue-green decoration on the fore-edges shows natural fading and rubbing from age and use but remains visible.

Overall, a genuine and presentable complete first-edition set in its matching eighteenth-century bindings.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the condition description.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
Bibliothèque nationale de France, François Joubert authority and works record; Bibliothèque numérique de l’École militaire, Commentaire sur l’Apocalypse, Avignon, Girard, 1762, two volumes, in-12; Galerie Bassenge, Auction 117, lot 1136; Catherine Maire, “Les jansénistes et le millénarisme”, Annales. Histoire, Sciences Sociales, 2008.

PACKAGING AND SHIPPING
The two volumes will be carefully protected and professionally packed.
Shipping will be tracked and insured.