A collection of manuscripts – Bavarian Illuminati, 1793-1794. French.
The Illuminati order ("enlightened"), which aroused many conspiracy theories, was founded by Adam Weishaupt in 1776. The order was persecuted by the church and was outlawed in 1784.
This collection includes about 235 handwritten leaves (most of them compiled in four signatures as explained hereafter) and contains, among others, a key to the cryptographic alphabet of the Illuminati.
1-2. Les derniers travaux de Spartacus et Philo dans l'ordere des illumines […]. "The latest writings by Spartacus (Weishaupt) and Philo (Adolf Freihar von Koenige, Weishaupt's assistant] of the Illuminati Order". Censorship approval dated 1793.
Two copies of a translation of the German original into French written by hand, published in 1793.
3. Illuminé dirigent ou chevalier écossaise, pour server de pendandt à l'écrit important ayant pour titre – les derniers travaux de Spartacus et Philo dans l'ordre des illumines […]"The Iluminated or the Scottish knight, serves as a complement to the important book named 'New writings by Spartacus and Philo". Manuscript, French.
A copy (most probably complete) of the French translation from the German original published in Munich in 1794.
4. Le Caverne de Voleur ["cave of the thief"]. Manuscript, French.
Some assume that the two comprehensive manuscripts (no. 1-3 above) were printed by Ludwig Adolphe Christian von Groleman, a high official in Hessen. The translation was edited, most probably, a short while after the publication of the manuscript and it is ready for printing.
It is possible that the archive was confiscated from the home of Franz Xavier von Zwack (1755-1843), a prominent member of the Bavarian Illuminati, but there is no proof to verify this assumption.
Total of about 235 handwritten leaves, overall good condition.