Provincial Letters, containing an Exposure of the Reasoning and Morals of the Jesuits

Blaise Pascal

Published by Gale and Fenner of London, 1816

About this Item

. I am pleased to be able to offer what I understand is the first English rendition of: Provincial Letters, by Blaise Pascal, an Anti-Jesuit tract which appeared in the 1600 s. I was unaware of this controversy but as usual Wikipedia came through with a reasonable explanation and background, some of which I transcribe here below (with my thanks): The Lettres provinciales (Provincial letters) are a series of eighteen letters written by French philosopher and theologian Blaise Pascal under the pseudonym Louis de Montalte. Written in the midst of the formulary controversy between the Jansenists and the Jesuits, they are a defense of the Jansenist Antoine Arnauld , a friend of Pascal who in 1656 was condemned by the Faculté de Théologie at the Sorbonne in Paris for views that were claimed to be heretical. The First Letter is dated January 23, 1656 and the Eighteenth March 24, 1657. The full title cum subtitle of this now rare and sought-after book is as follows: Provincial Letters, containing an Exposure of the Reasoning and Morals of the Jesuits, by Blaise Pascal, originally published under the name of Louis de Montalte, now translated from the French. The subtitle notes that: To which is added A View of the History of the Jesuits and The Late Bull for the Revival of the Order in Europe. This small leather-bound book (5 ¾ x 9 ¼ inches, 383 pages plus one page of publisher s adverts) was published by Gale and Fenner of London, dated 1816, the First English Edition according to my research. The book is bound in brown cloth with a quarter spine and corners in leather, with five raised bands on the spine and with red and dark brown leather title labels. This particular copy was bound by A. Reid of Newcastle. It features fine marbled endpapers and a gilt top of the pages. Please see the photos of the Table of Contents for your further information. Condition: This book is in very good condition, especially considering that it is now over 200 years old. The leather of the covers is worn and rubbed especially at the corners (leather worn off and/or split) and spine tips. In fact, the top 1.5 inches of the spine is separating but still well affixed and susceptible to being repaired (please see the photos). The gutter edge of the spine is also split but still well attached but will require careful handling. Inside, there are some light penciled remarks on the first blank page and one other page but the interior is remarkably clean and bright with just some light foxing and virtually no toning. The leading edge of some of the pages is soiled, not sure why. The front hinge is cracked, the rear intact and the binding is tight and sound. This book is not ex-library or a remainder.

Seller Inventory # 134

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Provincial Letters, containing an Exposure of the Reasoning and Morals of the Jesuits
• Publisher: Gale and Fenner of London
• Publication Date: 1816
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition.
• Condition: Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
• Weight: 3 pounds
• Seller catalogs:
  • Religion & Christianity