[CURIOSA] - PARNY (Évariste de). - Lot 66

[CURIOSA] - PARNY (Évariste de). Complete works by Parny. La Guerre des dieux. Bruxelles: imprimerie de Walhen et compagnie, 1827. - In-24, 118x76: 187 pp. Jansenist red morocco, spine ribbed, interior gilt roulette, gilt edges on witnesses, slipcase (20th century binding). New edition of this poem in 10 songs by the Creole poet Évariste de Parny (1753-1814), first published in 1799. It is a satire of the clerical world and a violent critique of certain dogmas, notably the doctrines of the Trinity and the virginity of Mary. Relatively untouched until the dawn of the Empire, it was subsequently condemned on numerous occasions, although this did not prevent it from being reprinted several times. Chateaubriand admitted that this text played a decisive role in the genesis of the Génie du christianisme. This copy is enriched with 20 beautiful free-form color engravings outside the text. They appear to come from Debray's edition dated An VIII, but are sometimes added to other small-format editions from the early 19th century. They are particularly beautiful and sought-after, especially in color, and there are period copies of poor quality. A very fine copy in a 20th-century binding, with full margins. Provenance: Éric Österlund, with bookplate.