Influence de Nostradamus dans le gouvernement de la France

Paris: the Author, 1878. ONLY EDITION. Large folding photogravure plate, one double-page, 6 full-page, and 5 text photogravures. Original printed blue wrappers (edges frayed, rear wrapper with minor loss). A remarkable survival. Only edition of this strange mystical report on 300 years of Nostradamus’ prophetic outcomes. Addressed as a missive to the French Senate, the text covers events that happened between the first publication of Nostradamus’ prophecies until the present year, 1878. Topics include royal births, events during the life of Marie de Medici, war with England, the French Revolution, the reign of Napoleon, and actions made by the sitting president of France (who ignored the author’s attempts to contact him regarding these predictions). The illustrations depict Nostradamus penning his prophesies alongside 60 notable men whose lives he predicted, the prophet with Marie de Medici when he saw her ascending the Bourbon throne, and reproductions of famous paintings of his prophecies by Rubens.

The author, Henri Torné-Chavigny (1826-1880) had published an initial tome on the subject entitled L’Histoire prédite et jugée par Nostradamus in 1862 and was apparently disappointed in its reception; he lists a number of grievances in the first few paragraphs, most of which involve him sending the book to various government officials for review and getting no response. He wrote a handful of other treatises in the interim, all about Nostradamus. This was his final attempt to bring to light the prophesies, with copies sent to all Senators in the 1878 session. Here he asserts that Nostradamus actually prophesied his own life and entrusted him with his prophetic legacy.

OCLC lists just one copy in the U.S. (Newberry).

Chomarat 8483.