Judge, 1915-09-25 · page 27 of 28
Judge — September 25, 1915 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **full-page advertisement** for a complete works of Voltaire, not a political cartoon. The page uses Voltaire's reputation to market an expensive 22-volume set. The ad invokes **Victor Hugo's famous comparison** of Jesus Christ and Voltaire as "servants of Humanity," positioning Voltaire as an Enlightenment hero who challenged religious superstition and tyranny. This framing would resonate with American readers valuing intellectual freedom and anti-authoritarian ideals. The ad emphasizes that Voltaire's ideas "bore fruit in the French Revolution and in the independence of our own country," making him relevant to American identity. By calling this "The Literary Event of the Century," the publisher appeals to educated middle-class readers seeking cultural refinement. The illustration shows a **classical figure (likely Voltaire) writing at a desk**, reinforcing his intellectual authority. The bottom section announces a price-reduction offer, exploiting scarcity ("limited edition") and competitive bidding history to create urgency—a marketing tactic recognizable today.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Our Unique Inaugural Offer a Golden Opportunity “The Literary Event of the Century” “Between two servants of Humanity, who appeared eighteen hundred years apart, there is a mysterious relation. To unmask imposture; to overthrow tyrannies, superstitions; to replace the false by the true; to protect the weak, the poor, the suffering—that was the war of Jesus Christ! And who waged that war? It was Voltaire. “Let us say it with a sentiment of profound respect; Jesus wept; Voltaire smiled. Of that divine tear and of that human smile is composed the sweetness of the present civilization.”—VICTOR HUGO. Thus did Victor Hugo, the loftiest intellect of the nineteenth centu: Humanity’s debt to Voltaire—the most remarkable literary genius the world h Historian, sage, satirist, wit, philosopher, dramatist, poet, essayist, teller of Boc- caccio-Chauceresque tales ridiculing the superstitions of his day, champion of mental liberty and foe of intolerance, Voltaire appeal! of the reading pub! intellectual and the unlearned. His HISTORIES are more entertaining than thi it of most writers of popular fiction. His ROMANCES set one thinking before the smile subsides. Every one will admire him for the m: ic grandeur of his TRAGEDIES— at once the envy and despair of imitators; all will laud the scintillating wit which gems his COMEDIES—that makes his RETTERS among the most interesting ever penned. Until Voltaire, great epochs were given the names of chiefs of states. Greece had her Age of Pericles, Rome her Age of Augustus, but France—the first to bestow such an honor on a great writer—named the momentous period in her history, the Age Voltaire. But Voltaire was more than a chief of a state—he was a chief of ideas—ideas that bore fruit in the French Revolution and in the independence of our own country. Next to the French people themselves, no quarter of the globe should be more likely than liberty-loving America to receive with popular acclaim this splendid edition of The 22 Matchless Volumes The titles and subject heads in these 22 volumes The first three sets from the pletes from which this 22 volume edition of Voltaire was printed sold for $4,200.00 per set. An entire limited edition from these same plates sold for $2,520.00 per set. The latter price was established after spirited public com- petition. These plates have now come under our control, through the failure of the publisher, together with about 160 bound sets, and approximately the same number unbound. We propose to use these sets as the means of inaugurating the most remark- able selling campaign ever launched for the benefit of cover several hundred pages in the Index volume. Space does not permit even a partial list. Suf- fice it to say that everything Voltaire ever wrote is here. The unsurpassable tale of Candide and all his other sociaaces| and stories, hie histories, ‘comedies, 1¢ Philosophical ' Dictionary, ters— Upwards 14,000 wit, rare philosophy, and entertain- ment in EVERY reader—an Epicurean feast for the student. the illastrations which cost a small fortune to get together and Teproduce—copies of quaint and rare old prints, etchi engravings, besides cl otogravures, many hand ‘The text js printed on 1 antique finished paper in large a universe of charm for the casual there are an intelligent and discriminating reading public. We are going to start this sale by offering these few sets now at a price that is practically The Only Complete Edition ‘in English To most English readers Voltaire has been only a great overshadowing name, a tradition rather than a living literary force. Of his writings, only fragments hitherto have ap- peared in English. During the 62 years of his literary activity (he died at the ripe age of 84) romances, histories, comedies, tragedies, essays, flowed unceasingly from his pen. He labored indefatigably on his Philosophical Dictionary which stands an enduring mon- ument to his genius—the most unique, amusing, audacious yet restrained, and in- structive work in any language. He conducted a voluminous correspondence with the lead- ing men and women of his day. His letters are the most vivid pen pictures we have of the manners and morals of his age. To the enterprise of an American publisher, English readers the world over are indebted for the Herculean labor and enormous expense involved in collecting, translating, and presc in suitable reas this enormous amount of mat: is version, the only complete edition of Voltaire in English, contains a masterly critique and bio- Baphy of Voltaire by Rt. Hon. John Morley, Vis- fount Morley of Blackburn, and an introduction by iver H. ES Leigh. The translations are by William ie echapical work is a marvel even in this “I Revere My God and I Love M. Less Than the Cost of Paper, Printing, and Illustrating We believe the time is now ripe for Voltaire, that a wide market for his works can be created ultimately at a fair price, and that the wide publicity secured for complete edition by the sacrifice of these sets will amply justify the adoption of this plan. We know that in a few days people all over the country will be talk- ing about Voltaire and this s: jut these prices are good means that all orders by mail at these prices must be postmarked before midnight of the dates named. Every Time the Clock Ticks the Price Goes Up As we shall be obliged soon to establish a selling price that will yield some return on the capital in- vested it will be necessary to Keep advancing the price until an adequate figure is reached. These advances in price will be in accordance with the following schedule, subject to such changes as cir- cumstances may render necessary. The inaugural price-NOW—and until midnight October 20th, next, is $22.50, f. 0. b., New York. The price after October 20th, next, will be $25.00. The price after November 20th, next, will be $30.00. . Notice of further advances in price will appear in later announcements. Send for your set today. Be sure to get your set ay, the lowest inaugural price. Your fiends and feighbors will all want a set when they see yours. But will they be in time to buy their sets at the same price? Money will be refunded if the books are not exactly a3 represented. clear type with wide margins. Specially desi title in tint add fo the attractiveness of the Columes, whi whicl bound in English Buckram Cloth with gold t ‘ene and heads bands, “Each volume is 6 2 83 x13 inches. (boxed) $0 pounds. feight per set Voltaire—Prince of Entertainers eminent Sitio vos Izac, Hugo, and brine us draughts from the cups: Voltaire gives us the spring out of which flows an wustless stream of all that makes fiction alluring, poetry beautiful, epi ble, common sense uncommonly for ‘memoral |, and courageous truthspeaking contagious.” In no Jess felicitous phrasing another puthority 4 de- “Ag a blstoria hol ceded to be the only masterful a: monarch and his Mig and His accepted as tl est most polished model style and intellectual gr “The nificent-Dictionalre Philosophique’ (as it was called) which takes up five of these vol- umes, is a delightful mirror of the mind of the man rho, put the simple word ‘reason’ as paramount to all else. NOT GOOD AFTER OCTOBER 20—ACT NOW. BRUNSWICK SunsC RIFTION co., ras idg. New York Clty” Enclosed $2.50 800 Daya cate 22-volume set of Yettsre tobe shipoed by 'Pakene 98 indicated below.” I to remit $2.00 month for 10 months following receipt Ke. 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