(Vintras) La Parraz [Alexandre Charvoz]. - Le Mystère des temps dévoilé. Esquisse du plan général du Créateur. - 1856

La Parraz [Alexandre Charvoz].
The Mystery of Times Unveiled. Sketch of the General Plan of the Creator.
Paris, Coulon-Pineau, bookseller, 33 Rue Monsieur-le-Prince, 1856.
In-8°, 96 pp. followed by a table, paperback with the original printed cover.
Munzel brothers Printing House, in Sceaux.

Original edition, published under the pseudonym of “La Parraz,” attributed to Abbé Alexandre Charvoz, one of the principal disciples of Eugène Vintras and of his mystical movement, the Work of Mercy. This attribution is expressly given in an inventory of the Calvados Departmental Archives, which describes the work as follows: “La Parraz [Charvoz], The Mystery of Times Unveiled, Paris, Coulon-Pineau, 1856, in-8°, 96 p.”

Mystical and eschatological text devoted to the “reestablishment of all things,” to the fall and renovation of humanity, to the role of Elijah, to the future reign of Christ and to the advent of a universal religious unity. The table comprises thirteen chapters, notably on creation, the “edenic transgression,” the “decays and renovations of humanity,” the Christian economy and the Holy Spirit, “the action of Elijah on the invisible worlds” and the anticipation of the “universal jubilee.”

The work directly belongs to the illuminist and prophetic literature pre-spiritist of the 1850s. It is also cited in studies devoted to occultist and illuminist circles of the 19th century; a study on Victor Hugo and the illuminés of his time cites precisely The Mystery of Times Unveiled, p. 21, regarding the Vintrasian doctrine of spirits inhabiting nature.

An interesting exemplar in original pamphlet form, complete with the 96 pages and the table. Covered imprint preserved, which is appreciable for this fragile pamphlet type. Reductions and marginal dampness, particularly at the head of some leaves, cover slightly soiled with some old pencil annotations and small wear to the corners; nevertheless an entirely satisfactory copy in its publication state.