ROUSSEAU JEAN-JACQUES: (1712-1778) French Writer and Philosopher. A curious and very ...

ROUSSEAU JEAN-JACQUES: (1712-1778) French Writer and Philosopher. A curious and very interesting autograph manuscript, one page, 4to, n.p., [Paris], n.d. (c.1745), in French. The manuscript, in Rousseau's hand, is from his unpublished work relating to the history of women and laws which he prepared between 1745 and 1751 for his benefactress Louise Marie Madeleine Dupin, born Fontaine. Rousseau writes his text in the right column of the page, the left reserved for additional notes. Rousseau refers to the thesis of gender equality and mentions different countries in the world and ancient civilizations where and when women carried out tasks today considered more typical of man. In the present one Rousseau refers to the Kings of France ordinances related to women, annotating to the left border ‘Ordonnaces des R[ois]. de Fr[ance].: L[ivre].5, p[age].486´, stating in part `On voit ici les privileges accordés aux habitants de Valmy en 1202 par Blanche Comtesse de Champagne; par ses lettres elle règle les amendes, les crimes dont elle se réserve la connaissance, les corvées et le service militaire que les habitants seront obliges de faire pour elle´ (Translation: “We see here the privileges granted to the inhabitants of Valmy in 1202 by Blanche Countess of Champagne; through her letters she regulates the fines, the crimes of which she reserves for herself the knowledge, the chores and the military service that the inhabitants will be obliged to do for her”) Small overall minor age wear, mostly to edges, with two satins, none affecting the text. G

At the time Rousseau wrote these pages, between 1745 and 1751, he was working as secretary to his benefactress Louise Marie Madeleine Dupin.