(VOLTAIRE) L'évangile de la Raison S.l.n.d., (1765). In-8°, viii - 254 pp. Bound in full speckled blond basane, smooth spine decorated with gilt fleurons, burgundy morocco title-piece, triple gilt fillets on covers (first spine cracked, corners dull). Collected by Voltaire; each piece, except the first, is preceded by its own faux-title. It contains: Testament de J. Meslier; Cateéchisme de l'honnête-homme; Sermon des cinquante; Saul et David. Jean Meslier (1664-1729), achieved posthumous "fame" thanks to the manuscript of which he had made three copies, and which was made public in part in 1762 by Voltaire under the title : Testament de Jean Meslier. In his will, parish priest Meslier apologizes to his parishioners for his unavowed apostasy: "How much did I suffer within myself when I was forced to preach to you these pious lies that I hated in my heart? What contempt I had for my ministry, and especially for this superstitious mass and these ridiculous sacramental administrations...". A fundamental text at the dawn of the French Revolution. Indexed by decree of July 5, 1765. Described in Bengesco, n° 1897 A (rare).