Bibliotheque Universelle et Historique, 1692-3
Jean Le Clerc and Jean Cornande de al Crose, Bibliotheque Universelle et Historique de l'annee M.D.C. XCII, Amsterdam, Abraham Wolfgang, 1692. 5.5”x3”, Volume 23. BOUND WITH: Bibliotheque Universelle et Historique de l'annee M.D.C. XCIII, Amsterdam, Abraham Wolfgang, 1693, volume 24 of the journal series, bound together. (xii), 535, (xviii); (iii), 537, (xvi); (II), 518, (39)pp. (Each volume has two parts with their own title pages, though there is continuous pagination from the first to second parts.)
Bound in full vellum. Condition: a lovely copy, with a very fresh text block. There is a centuries-old paper label on the spine bottom (“F”) with 5mm penciling of “23” and “24” just above that. VERY GOOD condition. $150
This interesting volume contains numerous papers, including book notices, book "reviews", including a saucy four-page review of a work on the devils of Loudon, made famous in the 20th century by several movies and a well-received book by Aldous Huxley. Evidently it was popular in the wayback as well, as I see another book on the subject was published this same year. Long story short, a wealthy and connected parish priest, Urban Grandier was supposed to have seduced or introduced devils who seduced the nuns of an Ursuline convent. Exorcisms were introduced without success, and on the first go-round Grandier was found not guilty. Unfortunately he was the target of interest of several, including a Fr. Laubardemont (and yes he has “demon” as part of his name) who persuaded a second trial, this particularly after he introduced a vicious satire written by Grandier on Richelieu to Richelieu, who settled into a deep mojo, giving Grandier a second go-round, and who in that turn wound up tortured in extremis. Grandier was eventually found guilty and was burned alive at the stake for his demon-possession (of which there was a “signed contract”) in 1634. Though only four pages long, the review does a good job in the review of the history of this witch hunting plague.
On the Bibliotheque: “Like its great rival, Pierre Bayle’s Nouvelles de la re´publique des lettres, it [the Bibliotheque...] was a source of information and means of communication for members of the nascent Republic of Letters. It was also one of the remote ancestors of the modern academic journal, though much less specialised than most of its successors.”J.R. Milton, “Locke's Publications in the Bibliothèque Universelle et Historique”, British Journal for the History of Philosophy, 05/2011, Volume 19, Issue 3
Editors and contributors included: Jean Le Clerc et Jean Cornande de al Crose, vols 1-9; Jean Le Clerc, 10, 12, 14-19; Jean Cornand de La Crose, vol 11; Charles le Cene and Jean Le Clerc, vol 13; Jacques Bernard and Jean Le Clerc, vol 20; Jacques Bernard, vols 24-5. The journal was published every 4 months in vols 1-3; every 3 in 4-19, and then twice a year for 20-25.
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