Preliminary identification
Photo reference
3 uploaded photos
Overview
A complete two-volume set of the famous polemic against the philosopher Voltaire, bound in contemporary mottled calf leather with gilt-tooled spines. This work represents the fierce intellectual 'counter-Enlightenment' movement of the 18th century.
Story
In 1762, a Jesuit priest named Claude-Adrien Nonnotte decided to take on the most dangerous mind in Europe: Voltaire. These books were a sensation, going through dozens of editions as the Church tried to fight back against the tide of secular reason.
Maker / Origin
Claude-Adrien Nonnotte was a French Jesuit writer and a primary adversary of the Philosophes. While Voltaire mocked him as a 'fool,' Nonnotte's meticulous (if biased) critiques were so popular they were translated into eight languages, making him a celebrity of the conservative resistance.
Condition & Value
The bindings show significant wear consistent with age, including 'red rot' (deterioration of the leather) and bumped corners. The gilt on the spines remains remarkably bright, though the leather on the joints appears fragile. Condition is fair to good for the period; significant foxing or staining inside would lower the value.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
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Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.