Leo Taxil - De geheimen der Vrijmetselarij. Ontsluierd door Leo Taxil

Leo Taxil - De geheimen der Vrijmetselarij. Ontsluierd door Leo Taxil - Brussel - René van Driessche, Uitgever - [ca 1890] - 1st edition - [1040]pp - Half cloth binding - 19,5 x 27,5 cm.

Condition: Good - with wear, tanning, some stains. Solid as a whole.

Dutch translation of La Franc-maçonnerie dévoilée (1887) by the French journalist Leo Taxil (= Marie Joseph Gabriel Antoine Jogand-Pagès, 1854-1907); the so-called Taxil Bible, the most famous 'traitor writing' of the Order from the 19th century. Not in Wolfstieg (# 30049 indicates the edition at Van Leeuwen in Leiden from 1890. This is a slightly earlier or later publication in a larger format).

Illustrated with black and white engravings (spectacular scenes of Masonic rites). Bound edition in contemporary half linen binding with gilded title on the spine and covers of decorative paper.

¶ The author, once inaugurated as a Freemason himself, concludes: "het Pausdom heeft, door de Vrijmetselarij vanaf haren oorsprong bekend te maken en te doemen, een wonderbare klaarzichtigheid getoond, en aldus aan de volkeren een bewijs te meer gegeven, dat alle woord welk van den Stoel van Petrus komt, een onfaalbaar woord is!". Be that as it may, thanks to 'traitor writings' such as this one, rituals of 19th century Masons have been preserved. Very valuable documentation.