Written by Voltaire (1694-1778), La Pucelle d'Orléans made its first (unauthorized) appearance in 1755...La
Pucelle d'Orléans. Poème héroï-comique. Première édition (sic), Paris, 1755. Small 12mo.
216 pp. (BNF: RES P-YE-3; Bengesco: 477). Published as 14 'chants', the publisher claimed the work was a transcription of eight of
Voltaire's manuscripts. Voltaire denied the attribution.
The first edition authorized by Voltaire was published in 1762...[Genève: Cramer], MDCCLXII. 8vo. viii + 358pp. It is comprised
of new chants (VIII, IX, XVI, XVII and XVIII) and chant XX is almost entirely rewritten. This edition also contains 20 engravings
attributed to Gravelot, though unsigned (BNF: RES-YE-5079; Bengesco: 488).
La Pucelle was condemened by the Roman Catholic church on January 20th, 1767 (Index librorum prohibitorum. 1786, p.135).
Eight months later, eight printers and bookbinders were found guilty of continuing to publish the book clandestinely and were
sentenced to three years banishment (Bengesco: p.127).
Despite being banned by Rome, La Pucelle was the tenth best-seller in France between the period
of 1769 and 1789.
This is not meant to be a checklist. Instead it is an archive of editions that I
have a title page and/or an illustration for. This page will be updated as I aquire new images.
1756 Edition. Small 8vo. 161pp. Augmented (in back) with L'Epitre de Junquières.
Otherwise an exact reproduction of the 1755 edition. Not in Bengesco. (Private Collection).
1st Authorized Edition (1762) [Genève: Cramer], MDCCLXII. 8vo. viii + 358pp.
20 engravings attributed to Gravelot. There are other editions dated 1762, including one with engravings by Drake.
(Bengesco: 488. Bibliotheque Erotique Gerard Nordmann: Dec. 2006, Lot: 556)
1764 edition. (202 x 123mm) xvi + 384pp. Frontispiece + 20 plates.
(Bengesco: 491. Cohen-de-Ricci 1030)
1765 edition. 24mo. vii + 238pp. Frontis (portrait of Voltaire) + 18 engravings
(Bengesco: note to 492; Private Collection)
1766 edition. Small 8vo. 2 volumes in one. 303pp. Frontis + 26 engravings signed 'L. Drake'
(Bengesco: 493. Bibliotheque Erotique Gerard Nordmann: Dec. 2006, Lot: 557)
1773 edition. À Londres: chez les Héritiers des Elzevirs, Blaew & Vascosan, MDCCLXXIII
12mo. 167pp. 19 watercolors after Eisen. Not in Bengesco. (Bibliotheque Erotique Gerard Nordmann: Dec. 2006, Lot: 558)
1775 'Temple du Gout' edition. 8vo. 420pp. 21 plates. Frontispiece attributed to Desrais. Not in Bengesco.
(Private Collection)
1792 edition. A Paris: [n.p.], 1792. 9cm x 15cm. 2 volumes bound as 1. 258pp., 180pp. Frontispiece + 23 engravings hors-texte. Not in Bengesco.
(Private Collection)
c.1798 edition. [Paris: Crapelet]. Large 8vo. 2 volumes. 223pp., 243pp. 21 engravings by Monsiau, Le Barbier, Monnet et Marillier
(Bengesco: 514; Private Collection)
1816 edition. Paris: Antoine-Augustin Renouard, 1816. 21cm. 391pp. 21 engravings
Engravings by R. Delvaux, Simonet, Girardet, Massard, B.A. Nicollet, Godefroy, Villerey, E. de Ghendt., N. Thomas, Ph. Trière after illustrations by Moreau.
(Bengesco: 523; Saint John's University (MN): PQ2080 .P7 1816)