Le Mal et le remède: aphorismes sociaux
Paris: Renou and Maulde for the Author, 1859. 8vo. xlviii, 201, [2] pp. FIRST EDITION THUS. Original printed wrappers, with a prospectus for Sagra’s collected works on the rear panel. Partially unopened. Minor foxing, but a good, genuine copy in original condition. Item #18746
First edition thus, an aphoristic credo on anarchy. Written as 1583 numbered maxims, this self-published profession of faith traces the logical development of a Protestant society to a post-religious anarchy, an eventuality the author believed unavoidable and beneficial. Aphorism 1532 states: “As true liberty cannot exist being separated from religious truth, that which is established by reason became anarchic”, tr.
This work was published 10 years after Sagra’s exile from France for promoting radical ideas; in the prefatory matter he addresses the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques, who fought for his expulsion: “Illustrious Colleagues, You condemned my principles. Your judgment contributed to making me a victim of slander and misfortune. I suffered and kept silence for ten years; now: judge me”, tr. He had published a version of this book prior to his exile, and states in the lengthy memoir that precedes the main text that he thought it necessary to update based on recent events.
Ramón de la Sagra (1798-1871) was the first known Spanish anarchist. He founded the world’s first anarchist journal El Porvenir in 1845, which was quickly suppressed. In addition to his prolific political activities, he was a celebrated botanist and served as director of the botanical gardens of Havana.
OCLC locates 4 institutional copies in the U.S.: Columbia, Harvard, Fisher, and Univ. of Kansas.
Caillet 9129.
Price: $1,250.00