A rare esoteric work, proposing a utopian society, with 9 folding plates

An intriguing esoteric work, proposing a utopian, harmonious society, ambitiously combining astrology, Christianity, mythology and sociology.  

Divided into three parts and written in the form of questions and answers, it opens with a 40-page foreword by Swiss lawyer Henri Disdier (1816-1864). The first two parts are devoted to the interpretation of religious doctrines, in which Vaillant seeks to show that many Christian doctrines actually have a much older origin and have been interpreted wrongly.

The third and final part is perhaps the most ambitious: this includes the author’s vision of a future utopia, a “socionomie”. This socionomie is based on the Christian virtues faith, hope and love. The author strives for “synarchie” (the antonym of anarchy), which will result in human happiness, a harmony between earth and heaven, a fusion of human intelligence and divine spiritual light.

Jean Alexandre Vaillant (1804–1886) was an active Freemason, author, linguist and translator. Following an invitation by a high-ranking boyar in 1829 he worked as a French tutor in Bucharest. He modernized the Saint Sava School and supported the Wallachian Revolution of 1848. Vaillant authored several books relating to Wallachian language and culture, including Grammaire valaque à l'usage des Français (1836) and La Roumanie (1844).