Les trois imposteurs. Traduit de l'anglois par M. le comte de Boulainvilliers.

French manuscript on paper, 23 x 17 cm, [4]-238 pp., framed text in black ink, very legible (foxing on 1st and last lvs).

Contemp. marbled calf, gilt triple fillet around the boards, gilt-tooled spine with raised bands, red leather title-label, a.e.g. (rubbed with some scratches, lacks of leather on the turn-ins, dulled corners).

Rare manuscript copy of a French version of a famous anticlerical work on the "imposture" of the founders of the three monotheistic religions (Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed). The existence of such a book, and the attribution of its authorship, was an ongoing theme from the 11th to the 18th century. It circulated clandestinely, in various versions and under different titles, but was first actually printed only in the 18th century. The French edition, first published in 1719 in Rotterdam under the title "La vie et l'esprit de M. Benoît Spinoza" (in 8 chapters), then revised in 1721 under the title "De tribus impostoribus ou Traité des trois imposteurs" (in 6 chapters), was recently attributed to the Dutch author Jan Vroesen (1672-1725). The text in its final form was edited in 1768 and then re-edited from 1775 to 1796. Our copy is a version curiously said to be translated from English, but it was actually made after the French 1721 edition. The "translation" is attributed to Count Henri de Boulainvilliers (1658-1722), French historian, philosopher and astrologer, erroneously considered at the time to be one of the possible authors of the treatise, because of his interest in Spinoza. The text is preceded by a letter from the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II (1194-1250), one of the first suspected of having spread the blasphemy about the three impostors, and therefore accused by Pope Gregory IX, who excommunicated him (for the second time) in 1239. Long ms. note (end of 18th century) on the attribution of the authorship of the text. Ref. Tylus, P.- Manuscrits français de la collection berlinoise disponibles à la Bibliothèque Jagellonne de Cracovie (XVIe-XIXe siècles). Cracovie, 2010, pp. 123-124. - Benitez, M.- "La diffusion du 'Traité des trois imposteurs' au XVIIIe siècle", Revue d’Histoire Moderne & Contemporaine, 40-1, 1993, pp. 137-151. - Data.bnf.fr. Prov. Interlaced monogramme APL topped by the motto "Lucem ex tenebris" (engr. bookpl.). - Ms. mention "acheté 60 [?] en 1798 à une vente publique". - [Georges Petit].