Collection Complete des oeuvres de J.J. Rousseau, citoyen de Genève.

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Collection Complete des oeuvres de J.J. Rousseau, citoyen de Genève.
Genève: s.n., 1782
24 vols. 8°. Uniform contemporary sheep spine and corners and paper covered boards. This edition was edited by Pierre Alexandre Du Peyrou for the Société Typographique. Two supplements were published, vols. XXV-XXX, and later vols. XXXI-XXXIII, which are not part of the Montolieu set. Vol. 9, p. 377, a ms note in Emile, vol. 16 folding plate, vol. 18, with 18 folding plates. From the library of Baronne Isabelle de Montolieu, 1718-1826.

Contents: v. 1-2: Politique -- v. 3-6: Julie ou de la nouvelle Héloïse -- v. 7-10: Emile ou de l'education -- v. 11-14: Mélanges -- v. 15-16: Dictionnaire de musique -- v. 17: Traités sur la musique -- v. 18: Théatres et poésies -- v. 19-20: Confessions -- v. 21-22: Dialogue -- v. 23: Pieces sur divers sujets & un recueil de lettres -- v. 24: Recueil de lettres sur la philosophie, la morale, & la politique.

Laid-in to this copy, with Voltaire’s (?) wax seal

"Aventure que Mr. de Voltaire eut avec Gibbon l'Historien dans le grand berceau de Charmille, à Ferney, en 1776". A single sheet folded one to make 4 pp.

[Genève], Imprimerie E. Pelletier, rue du Rhône, 64, c. 1840. With [Voltiare’s] wax seal on the front leaf.

A copy which conforms to ours is listed in the Bibliothèque de Genève with the following note: “Le bas de la première page porte l'apostille manuscrite suivante, en regard du cachet: Cachet de Voltaire [the seal of Voltaire].” The piece is perhaps a commemorative pamphlet issued by Les Délices, or the former Institut et Musée de Voltaire, which was Voltaire’s Geneva residence before moving to Ferney.

This especially scarce pamphlet describes a somewhat comic episode between Voltaire and the historian Edward Gibbon. The two had only corresponded and never met, and Gibbon, who lived at Lausanne, wished to rectify the situation and visit Voltaire, who refused. The outcome of this battle of wills is described herein…

Edward Gibbon on his knees: Although the leaflet was likely issued after Madame de Montolieu’s death, it was no doubt laid into this copy of Rousseau due to her acquaintance with Gibbon, who, according to Madame de Genlis, expressed his devotion to Madame de Montolieu (at the time, still Madame de Crouzas) on his knees, a position from which he was unable to rise (due to the corpulence of his person). Cf. Genlis, Mémoires (Paris : Firmin-Didot, 1878), p. 146.