PASCAL (Blaise). Pensées sur la religion et sur quelques autres sujets, qui ont été trouvées après sa mort parmy ses papiers. Paris, Guillaume Desprez, 1670. in-2, (41) ff. n. e. including the title, 365 pp. and (10) ff. n. e. for the table of contents, red morocco, triple gilt fillet, decorated ribbed spine, blue morocco lining decorated with a gilt frame, marbled paper endpapers and double endpapers, gilt edges (Thibaron-joly). Tchemerzine, V, 70; Maire, IV, 101, n°3 [state C]. A rare and sought-after first edition of Pascal's Pensées, completed on 2 January 1670, distinguished from counterfeits by the privilege dated 7 January 1667, the errata on the verso, the figure of Guillaume Desprez on the title and the copper-engraved Sorbonne vignette at the beginning of the text. This so-called Port-Royal edition, the first of all, was drawn up following the posthumous discovery of Pascal's papers in 1662, and is the result of discussions in Port-Royal about the need to publish them; it includes a preface by Étienne Périer, the approvals of the doctors, and 10 leaves of table at the end. A so-called "pre-original" edition was compiled in 1669 for the approval of the ecclesiastical authorities and the correctors; it therefore does not have a privilege, nor the approvals of the ecclesiastical authorities, nor the errata, nor the tables. Only two copies survive, in the BnF [state A] and the library of Troyes [state B]. A superb copy, from the libraries of Pierre Bergé, with his bookplate (V, 16 Dec. 2020, no. 1172); P.F. Arminjon (Paris, 2.12.2002, no. 131). Washed copy. Slight rubbing to the binding. Pale stains on boards.