Board of the main facts regarding Allan Kardec and the origins of Spiritism

Written by Dr Silvio Seno Chibeni, P.hD.

1. Introduction

In this work we will try to gather some important data from the history of Spiritism, especially those referring to Allan Kardec and nascent Spiritism. Our basic source will be the work Allan Kardec, in three volumes, by Zêus Wantuil and Francisco Thiesen, given to the public by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation in 1979/80. Any scholar of Spiritism will readily recognize that it represents the most complete and rigorous study ever published on Kardec's life and work. Volumes 2 and 3, by Thiesen, also contain analyzes and comments of great accuracy and depth on many topics related to the spiritist doctrine and movement.

The three volumes of this work present a very dense mass of information. They have anthroponomic indices, but they do not have analytical indices. In the last two volumes, the chapters are of wide proportions, containing many sections. Thiesen chose, certainly with reasonable reasons, not to make a chronological presentation of the facts. All of this makes it very difficult to locate subjects. For these reasons, we find it useful to compile here, in a simpler and more direct way, some of the most important events. We were motivated by our personal experience, of often wanting to quote precise dates and places and not being able to find references right away. It may also be of some use to have a succinct panel of facts, which allows a global view.

Of course, we know that what matters most are not names, dates and places, but their historical, scientific and philosophical significance. The careful researcher cannot dispense with the respectable work of Thiesen and Wantuil. It should also be remembered that the second part of Allan Kardec's Posthumous Works consists of texts of enormous relevance to the history of Spiritism, full, as it could not fail to be, of precious doctrinal considerations. The same goes for the Revue Spirite volumes edited by Kardec.

There are some other sources about Spiritism and its history, which can be consulted, although they are nowhere near in scope and precision, to what Thiesen and Wantuil bequeathed us. Among them are:

● Moreil, André. La vie et l'Œvre d'Allan Kardec. Paris, Vermet, undated. (Wantuil mentions another Parisian edition, Éditions Sperar, 1961; Thiesen refers to a translation for the vernacular, by Miguel Maillet, published undated by Edicel. See Allan Kardec, vol. I, pp. 79 and 26, respectively.)

● Sausse, Henri. Biographie d'Allan Kardec. 4th ed., Paris, Éditions Jean Meyer, 1927. The Brazilian Spiritist Federation features a translation of this biography in its edition of What is Spiritism, without indication of the translator. {note 1}

For ease of reference, we will adopt the following abbreviations:

● AK I, AK II and AK III respectively volumes I, II and III of the work Allan Kardec. ● OP Posthumous Works ● RS or Revue Revue Spirite ● SPES Société Parisienne des Études Spirites ● FEB Brazilian Spiritist Federation

The numbers that will appear before these symbols refer to pages of the works, unless otherwise specified. We used the 1st edition of Allan Kardec and the 18th edition of the Febian translation of Posthumous Works, translated by Guillon Ribeiro (confronted with ​ ​ the French original: Paris, Dervy-Livres, 1978).

2. Hippolyte-Léon Denizard Rivail

1804 - (10/3rd) - Birth of Hippolyte-Léon Denizard Rivail, the future Allan Kardec, in Lyon, the second largest French city after Paris. His parents were Jean-Baptiste Antoine Rivail, a lawman, and Jeanne Louise Duhamel, residents of Rue Sale, 76; this house was demolished in the middle of the 19th century. (AK I 29)

1815 - Rivail goes to the Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi Institute to continue his studies. The Institute was in the city of Yverdon, Switzerland, and operated as a boarding school. There the students received thorough comprehensive education, according to the innovative pedagogical method of the famous teacher, based on the conviction that love is the eternal foundation of education. (AK I chapters 2 to 11 and 15)

1822 - Rivail leaves Yverdon and settles in Paris. There is no complete certainty about that date. It is known that in January 1823 he already lived at Rue de la Harpe, 117. It is also confirmed that at least from 1828 to 1831 he lived at Rue de Vaugirard, 65. (AK I chapters 12 and 21)

1824 - Rivail publishes his first textbook, Cours pratique et théorique ​ d'arithmétique, designed according to the Pestalozzian method. It was ​ published in Paris in the Imprimerie de Pillet Ainé, Rue Christine, 5. (AK I chapters 14 and 16)

1825 - Rivail founds his first school, the École de Premier Degrée. (AK I chapter 18)

1826 - Institution Rivail, a technical institute, is located at Rue de Sèvres, 35; it operated until 1834. The Lycée Polymathique, which was also run by Rivail, would later exist in this same place until 1850, when it was ceded to A. Pilotet. From that date Prof. Rivail would no longer practice teaching activities. (AK I chapter 19 and pp. 131, 145 and 146)

1828 - Rivail gives the public the "Plan proposé pour l'amélioration de l'éducation publique", suggesting guidelines for public education. (AK I chapter 21)

1831 - Rivail's Grammaire Française Classique sur un nouveau plan appears. (AK I chapter 22)

1832 - Marries Amélie-Gabrielle Boudet (1795-1883), who would be his dedicated companion and support at all times, until his disincarnation. Known later among spiritists as "Madame Allan Kardec", Amélie-Gabrielle was a teacher and collaborated with her husband in his teaching activities. They never had children, as explicitly read in the Revue Spirite of 1862. (AK I chapter 20, III 45)

Rivail and his wife were dignified people, of unassailable morality, dedicating themselves entirely to the cultivation of the superior ideals of culture, education, the good. They fought for the causes of freedom of education and education for girls. Rivail taught free courses for poor children for many years. Besides being a teacher, he was always a friend of the students. (AK I chapters 23 to 29)

From a material point of view, the Rivail couple led simple lives, often facing economic difficulties. In the spiritist phase, his meager resources would be used in the publication of the initial works and in other expenses related to Spiritism. In the years of greatest limitations, Rivail supplemented his income with modest temporary jobs, such as an accountant. (AK I chapter 33)

There are reliable references to about 21 texts published by Prof. Rivail, among didactic books and several pamphlets referring to education. (AK I chapter 37)

Rivail had a solid scholarship, knowing the sciences, philosophy and the arts quite well. He translated German and English works into French, and vice versa. He was a member of several cultural academies, having several degrees. (AK I chapters 22, 30, 35)

Contrary to what Henri Sausse affirmed, and some maintain today, Rivail was not a doctor (AK I ch. 31). There is also no evidence that he was a Mason, and it is more reasonable to assume that he was not (AK I chapter 32).

3. From the initial observations to the first edition of The Spirits' Book ​

1848 - Beginning of the famous spiritist phenomena that involved the Fox family, in Hydesville (USA). On March 28, the first physical manifestations took place; three days later, the first tiptological communication was established. Within a few years, similar phenomena began to draw public attention not only in the United States, but also in Europe. It was the phase of the so-called "turning tables''. (AK II 49-60; see also The Turning Tables and Spiritism, by Zêus Wantuil, published by FEB.)

1854 - Rivail is informed by Mr. Fortier, magnetizer of his acquaintance, about the occurrence of the turning table phenomena. Although he found them strange, he did not consider them impossible, since they could have some physical cause not yet well determined. However, some time later that same Mr. Fortier told him that the tables also "spoke", that is, they gave signs of intelligence. The reaction now was skeptical: "I will only believe it when I see it and when they prove to me that a table has a brain to think, nerves to feel and that it can become sleepwalking." (OP 265; AK II 62)

1855 - At the beginning of that year, Mr. Carlotti gave him a long account ​ of the singular phenomena. Although Rivail had known him for 25 years, he once again expressed reservations, given his friend's exalted temperament, so in opposition to his. (OP 266; AK II 124)

1855 - In May, Rivail goes, with Fortier, to the home of Mrs. Roger, sleepwalker, where he meets Mr. Pâtier and Mrs. Plainemaison. The latter talks about the phenomena, but with seriousness and coldness, which predisposes him, finally, to observe the facts. (OP 266)

1855 - At one of these meetings, he meets the Baudin family, then a resident of Rue Rochechouart (from 1856 he would go to Rue Lamartine; see AK 64). Invited by Mr. Baudin, he began to regularly attend the weekly sessions that were held at his home. The mediums were the couple's daughters, Caroline and Julie, who at the beginning wrote with the help of a basket. {note 2} From numerous and frivolous that were, under the influence of Rivail, the meetings became reserved and serious, dedicated to the rational and methodical research of the new domain. "I understood, first of all, the gravity of the exploration I was going to undertake; I realized, in those phenomena, the key to the problem so obscure and so controversial of humanity's past and future ... It was, in short, a whole revolution. in ideas and beliefs; therefore, it was necessary to walk with the greatest circumspection, and not lightly; to be positivist and not idealistic, so as not to be deceived "(OP 267-68; AK II 64). Rivail submitted to the Spirits a series of questions in order to elucidate problems related to philosophy, psychology and the nature of the invisible world. A group of intellectuals charged him with analyzing and sifting about 50 notebooks with different spiritual communications. (AK II 71, 68 and 125)

1856 - In that year he also began to attend spiritual meetings at the home of Mr. Roustan, on Rue Tiquetonne, 14. The medium was Miss. Japhet, sleepwalker. Rivail's notes, which came largely from communications obtained by Miss. Baudin, took the proportions of a book, although it is known that around April it was not yet clear to him that it should be published one day (OP 276). After this became evident, it was through Miss. Japhet that the Spirits helped Rivail to make a complete revision of the text already elaborated. It was The Spirits' Book. (OP 270, 276 and ​ ​ 277; AK II 72)

1856 - On April 30, by the mediumship of Miss. Japhet, Rivail has the first ​ ​ news of his mission, in quite allegorical language. Others followed, of a more positive nature. The set of these communications and, mainly, Rivail's comments indicating his reaction, constitutes a mandatory reading for every spiritist, due to their beauty and high significance. (OP 277-87; AK II 69 and 72)

1857 - At the beginning of that year the manuscript text of The Spirits' ​ Book is completed; the editor, E. Dentu, sends it to the Imprimerie de Beau, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which is 23 km from Paris, to the west (AK II 73 and 75). The expenses are entirely borne by Rivail (AK II 257). The Rivail couple then resided at Rue des Martyrs, 8, on the second floor, at the back of the courtyard, where they had been at least since March 1856 (OP 273).

1857 - On April 18, the first edition of The Spirits' Book (Le livre des ​ ​ ​ ​ Esprits) comes to light. Containing the principles of the Spiritist doctrine on ​ the nature of the Spirits, their manifestations and their relations with men; the moral laws, the present life, the future life and the future of humanity; written under the dictation and published by order of Superior Spirits by Allan Kardec. Paris, E. Dentu, Libraire, Palais Royal, Galerie d'Orléans, 13. {note 3}

This first edition contains 501 questions, divided into 3 parts (176 pp.). Aside from the table in the chapters, there is a useful analytical index ("Table alphabétique"). There are no conclusions; just an Epilogue, less than a page. Rivail's notes, numbering 17, all come at the end, occupying 12 pages. Throughout the first part ("Free premier. Doctrine spirite.") A form of double exposure is adopted: in the left column, questions and answers; on the right, the equivalent running text. It is in this work that Rivail adopts the pseudonym of Allan Kardec, a name he would have had in an old incarnation among the Druids, priests of the Celtic people, who occupied Gaul, Great Britain and Ireland (AK II 74-80). In the Epilogue, the publication of a supplement containing new teachings is announced shortly. However, Kardec ends up giving up on the idea, elaborating, in its place, a second edition "entirely refounded and considerably increased", which would be made public in March 1860 (see section 6 of our work). In 1957 Canuto Abreu published a bilingual edition of the first edition of O Livro dos Espíritos, under the title The First Spirits' Book (São Paulo, ​ Companhia Editora Ismael).

4. The Spiritist Review (Revue Spirite)

1858 - On January 1st, Kardec launches the first issue of The Spiritist ​ Review (Revue Spirite), a journal of psychological studies. Containing the ​ ​ report of the material or intelligent manifestations of the Spirits, apparitions, evocations, etc., as well as all the news related to Spiritism. Spirits' teaching on the things of the visible and the invisible world; about the sciences, the morals, the immortality of the soul, the nature of man and his future. The history of Spiritism in Antiquity; its relations with magnetism and sleepwalking; the explanation of popular legends and beliefs, the mythology of all peoples, etc. Paris; bureau at Rue des Martyrs, 8.

The first issue, with 36 pages, was printed at the Imprimerie de Beau, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the same that had already printed The Spirits' ​ Book; expenses, as in the case of this book, were also at Kardec's risk ​ and expense (AK III 21-33; II 76). The magazine was monthly and during Kardec's life it worked in his own residence, that is:

● 1/1/1858 - Rue des Martyrs, 8. ● 7/15/1860 - Passage Ste.-Anne (Rue Ste.-Anne, 59). ● 1/4/1869 - On that date, the transfer of the Offices and Office was scheduled to Librairie Spirite, * Rue de Lille, 7, which would also temporarily host the Parisian Society for Spiritist Studies; the newsroom would go to Villa Ségur (Av. de Ségur, 39), home owned by Kardec since at least 1860, to which he would move with his dedicated wife. (AK III 21-24, 35-37, 118-19; II, pp. 24-25)

It was Kardec who wrote the magazine in full and took care of all correspondence and mailing, a herculean job enough to consume all the time of an ordinary person. And that was only part of his work, with books, the Parisian Society for Spiritist Studies, hundreds of annual visitors, trips... {note 4}

Revue Spirite is a rich doctrinal source, little explored by Spiritists. French originals, still necessary for careful research, are very rare worldwide. Kardec discusses the idea of creating the Review in OP 293-94. In her ​​ own words, she became a "powerful auxiliary" in the elaboration of the doctrine and in the implantation of the spiritist movement (AK III 22; OP 294). Its main objectives were (AK III 21-33; II 24-25):

1. Carry out spiritist reports and analyzes of spiritist, psychological, sociological phenomena, etc .;

2. Publish selected mediumistic productions, obtained from SPES or sent by correspondents;

3. Probe the opinion of men and spirits about principles in preparation;

4. Comment, in the light of Spiritism, newspaper articles, literary, philosophical and scientific works.

Kardec edited the Revue until the April 1869 issue, inclusive. After Kardec's death (3/31/69) it continued to be published, thanks to the idealism of Ms. Allan Kardec, Pierre-Gaëtan Leymarie and Jean Meyer, mainly (AK III 153-57; Reformer, 09/1990, p . 286). From 1913, the article ​ ​ 'la' ('a') was added to the review's title, which has since become 'La Revue ​ Spirite' (AK III 32 and 47). In a regrettable decision, it was extinguished in ​ 1976 by André Dumas, together with the Union Spirite Française, {note 5} to give rise to Renaître 2000 and the Union des Sociétés Francophones ​ ​ pour l'Investigation Psychique et l'Étude de la Survivance (USFIPES) , both of a non-spiritist nature. Under the clear and firm direction of Francisco Thiesen, the FEB made efforts to save it in 1977, failing to succeed (AK III 45-57). Fortunately, on May 11, 1989, Union Spirite Française et Francophone, based in Tours, managed to judicially recover the title, resuming the publication of Revue, quarterly. {note 6}

5. The Société Parisienne des Études Spirites (SPES)

1857 - Around October of that year, spiritist meetings began at the residence of the couple Allan Kardec, at Rue des Martyrs, 8. They took place on Tuesday nights, and the main medium was Miss. Ermance Dufaux. With the increasing number of visitors, it was essential to find a wider location. The solution found was to rent a room, quoting expenses between people. (OP 294-95; AK III 34)

1858 - The Paris Society of Spiritist Studies is legally founded on April 1st, ​ or, in French, Société Parisienne des Études Spirites, whose title Kardec often abbreviated to 'Societé Spirite de Paris', 'Societé des Études Spirites', or even 'Societé de Paris'.

It was in the weekly meetings of Société that a good part of the mediumistic and study activities supervised by Kardec were developed. SPES doors were not open to the public, although there were "general meetings" at which visitors presented by members of Société could be admitted; these meetings alternated, weekly, with "private meetings", to which only the members had access. This is perfectly understood, given the objectives of the meetings, linked essentially to the theoretical and experimental research of the phenomena. Société was, like Revue, a field ​ ​ for the elaboration of spiritist doctrine. (OP 294-95; AK III 34-44; II 36-37)

During Kardec's lifetime, the Spiritist Society of Paris occupied three addresses (OP 295; AK III 35-37 and 118):

● 4/1/1859 - Galerie Montpensier, 12, at Palais Royal (in a hall of the Douix restaurant). There, SPES met on Fridays. ● 4/20/1860 - Passage Ste.-Anne (Rue Ste.-Anne, 59). At that same address, as of July 15, Kardec, who took the Revue Spirite with him, lives. Although by that time he already owned the house of the quiet Villa Ségur, Allan Kardec found himself in the contingency of staying in that apartment with his selfless wife, sharing space with Revue and SPES, to save his meager time. ● 1/4/1869 - The provisional transfer of Société to Librairie Spirite, Rue de Lille, 7, was scheduled for that date.

6. Allan Kardec's other important works

Below we provide some data on the main works of Allan Kardec (in addition to The Spirits' Book, which we have already covered; for a possibly complete list, ​ see AK III 15, 18 and 19). Some of the information regarding the days and months of the publications was collected in the FEB editions. As for the current French editions, we indicate those that we personally own; in some cases, there are other editions in bookstores. We will abbreviate the data referring to the original publishers according to these conventions (note that several of the works were published by more than one editor):

● Dentu E. Dentu, Libraire. Palais Royal, Galerie d'Orléans, 13. ● Ledoyen Ledoyen, Libraire. Palais Royal, Galerie d'Orléans, 31. ● Didier Didier et Cie., Libraires-Éditeurs. Quai des Augustins, 17. {note 7}

1858 - Practical Instruction on Spiritist Manifestations (Instruction pratique ​ ​ sur les manifestations spirites). Containing the complete exposition of the ​ necessary conditions to communicate with the Spirits, and the means of developing the mediating faculty in mediums. Bureau de la Revue Spirite, Rue des Martyrs, 8; Dentu; Ledoyen.

With the publication of The Mediums' Book, in 1861, Kardec did not print ​ ​ the Instruction (152 pp.), At the time already sold out, considering it ​ surpassed, in terms of comprehensiveness, by the new work. It is, however, of significant historical value; today it is again available in French (Paris, La Diffusion Scientifique) and in Portuguese, in translation by Cairbar Schutel (in: Spiritist Initiation, 6th ed., São Paulo, Edicel, 1977; ​ ​ also published by Casa Editora O Clarim, de Matão, in 1987).

1859 - What is Spiritism (Qu'est-ce que le Spiritisme). Introduction to the ​ ​ ​ knowledge of the invisible world by the manifestations of the Spirits, containing the summary of the principles of the Spiritist doctrine and answers to the main objections. Ledoyen. [100 pp.] {Note 8}

Current French edition: Paris, Dervy-Livres. Recommended Brazilian translation: Rio, FEB (translator not indicated).

1860 - (March) - Second edition of The Spirits' Book. Containing the ​ ​ principles of the Spiritist doctrine on the immortality of the soul, the nature of the Spirits and their relations with men; the moral laws, the present life, the future life and the future of humanity. According to the teaching given by the Superior Spirits with the help of several mediums, collected and ordered by Allan Kardec. Second edition, entirely refounded and considerably increased. Didier; Ledoyen.

Above the title, the phrase "Spiritualist philosophy" now appears. This new edition, which has become definitive, has 1019 questions, divided into four parts. Conclusions are added; there is no longer an alphabetical index, unfortunately. The double exposure form does not appear anywhere. The notes now come soon after the responses of the Spirits, being much more numerous; it is easy to see that many of them come from the flowing text of the first part of the first edition. {note 9}

1861 - (January 15) - The Mediums' Book (Le livre des mediums), or guide ​ for mediums and summoners. Containing the Spirits' special teaching on the theory of all kinds of manifestations, the means of communicating with the invisible world, the development of mediumship, the difficulties and pitfalls that one may encounter in the practice of Spiritism. To follow the Spirits' Book. Didier; Ledoyen. [498 + iv pp .; AK III 173]

1861 - Second edition of The Mediums' Book. Revised and corrected with ​ ​ the help of the Spirits, and added with a large number of new instructions. Didier; Ledoyen. [510 + viii pp.]

Current French edition: Paris, Dervy-Livres. Recommended Brazilian edition: FEB, translation by Guillon Ribeiro, entirely revised from the 59th edition.

1862 - (February) - Spiritism in its simplest expression (Le Spiritisme à sa ​ ​ plus simple expression). Summary presentation of the teaching of spirits ​ and their manifestations. Ledoyen. [36 pp.]

In 1994, this booklet was reedited by the Center d'Études Spirites Allan Kardec, from Paris. There are several translations for the vernacular, being available today those of Dafne R. Nascimento, published by the Spiritist Federation of the State of São Paulo in 1984, and that of Joaquim da Silva Sampaio Lobo (in: Iniciação Espírita, 6th ed., São Paulo, Edicel, 1977). {Note 10}

1862 - Spiritist Journey in 1862 (Voyage spirite en 1862). Containing: 1. ​ ​ ​ Observations on the state of Spiritism; 2. The instructions given by Allan Kardec in the different groups; 3. Instructions on the formation of groups and societies, and a model of regulation for their and their use. Ledoyen. [64 pp.]

This book is currently published in Paris by Éditions Vermet; in Brazil, in Matão, by Casa Editora O Clarim, in translation by Wallace Leal Rodrigues. In none of these editions does it appear after the title; we take them from AK III 18, where it is not clear whether they were in the original editions. Apart from the aforementioned instructions and regulations, the body of the work consists of three speeches given by Kardec to the spiritists of Lyon and Bordeaux on his famous trip.

1864 - (April) - Imitation of the Gospel according to Spiritism (Imitation de ​ ​ ​ l'Évangile selon le Spiritisme). Containing the explanation of the moral ​ maxims of Christ, his agreement with Spiritism and its application to the different positions of life. By Allan Kardec, author of the Spirits' Book. Unshakable faith is only that which can face reason face to face, in all times of Humanity. Paris, the editors of the Spirits' Book; Ledoyen, Dentu, Fréd. Henri, booksellers, at the Palais Royal, and at the office of the Revue Spirite, Rue and Passage Sainte-Anne, 59.

This work, printed in the Imprimerie by P.-A. Bourdier et Cie, Rue Mazarine, 30, has 444 + xxxvi pages. It is a precursor to The Gospel ​ According to Spiritism, and would no longer be printed by Kardec after its publication in 1866. However, it is of great historical value, which is why in 1979 FEB reissued it in photographic reproduction. We have no news of other recent editions or translations. Naturally, 'imitation' here should not be understood in the popular sense today, of 'copy', but in that of 'practice' (see Hermínio Miranda's introduction to the Febian edition for further clarification).

1865 - (August 1) - Heaven and Hell, or Divine Justice according to ​ ​ ​ Spiritism (Le ciel et l'enfer, or la justice divine selon le Spiritisme). ​ ​ Containing the comparative examination of the doctrines on the transition from bodily to spiritual life, future penalties and rewards, angels and demons, eternal penalties, etc .; followed by numerous examples of the real situation of the soul during and after death. "By myself I swear, said the Lord God, that I do not want the death of the wicked, but that he be converted, that he leave the evil way and that he lives." (Ezekiel, 33:11). Paris; the editors of The Spirits' Book, Librairie Spirite. ​ ​

Today, a Belgian edition of Éditions de l'Union Spirite is available. The FEB translation is, in this case, by Manuel Quintão. (AK III 108 mentions the "21st edition, revised, 1974.)

1866 - The Gospel according to Spiritism (L'Évangile selon le Spiritisme). ​ ​ ​ ​

The cover page sayings are identical to those of L'Imitation, except for the ​ ​ date and the phrase "Third edition, revised, corrected and modified". It can be seen, therefore, that Kardec considered this work a new edition of the previous one, despite the simplification of the title. As we read in Thiesen's preface to the FEB edition of L'Imitation, the second edition, from 1865, ​ ​ would be just another edition of the first book. However, in AK III 18 this same author writes: "From the 2nd ed. - 1865 - onwards, this work took on a new title ...". In order for the latter information to be compatible with the former, '2nd exclusive edition' must be understood here. * In any case, it is the third edition that has become definitive, serving as the basis for subsequent editions in French and in the various languages that was translated. Also due to its rarity and historical value, FEB launched, in 1979, a photographic reproduction of this edition. In France, it is now published by La Diffusion Scientifique. In Portuguese, the recommended classic translation is that of Guillon Ribeiro (FEB), entirely revised from the 104th edition.

1868 - (January 6) - Genesis, miracles and predictions according to ​ Spiritism (La genèse, les miracles et les prédictions selon le Spiritisme). ​ ​ Paris, Librairie Internationale. *

This was the last book published by Kardec. It can be found today in an edition of La Diffusion Scientifique, from Paris. The current edition of FEB was translated by Guillon Ribeiro.

1890 - (January) - Posthumous Works (Œuvres Posthumes). Paris, ​ ​ ​ Société de Librairie Spirite. [450 pp.]

Edited by Pierre-Gaëtan Leymarie, this book brings together important texts by Kardec, both of a theoretical nature, on various subjects, and on facts related to the master's spiritist activities. In AK III 19 it is read that a second edition came out in the same year of 1890. Guillon Ribeiro translated the book for FEB, from the first French edition. The current edition of Dervy-Livres has controversial comments, introduction and notes by André Dumas.

Depending on the object of our work, the list above contains only the most important texts and, on them, only some basic information. Volume III of the work Allan Kardec is mandatory for those who want to access the most extensive and secure source of data on the whole of Kardec's production.

7. Allan Kardec's departure and some subsequent events

1869 - (March 31) - Allan Kardec suddenly disincarnates, while attending a bookstore clerk, in his Rue Ste.-Anne apartment, most likely victimized by the rupture of an aortic aneurysm (AK III 110, 116 and 119) . The next day, he should vacate that property, going to Villa Ségur's house; Revue's ​ ​ offices would go to Rue de Lille, Librairie Spirite, which would also host SPES.

The body was buried at noon on April 2, in the Montmartre cemetery. It is estimated that more than a thousand people followed the procession, which followed the streets of Grammont, Laffitte, Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, Fontaine and Boulevard de Clichy. On the edge of the grave, Camille Flammarion, an astronomer and medium at SPES, delivered his important speech, which FEB featured in its edition of Posthumous Works. At the ​ ​ first meeting of SPES after this fact, the members present launched the idea of raising a monument to the master, who soon received membership ​​ from Spiritists in many cities. That was how the famous dolmen of the Père-Lachaise cemetery were built, where Kardec's remains were moved on March 29, 1870.

1870 - (March 31) - The Druid monument of Père-Lachaise is inaugurated. This famous cemetery is considered a museum, having been buried many of the great French figures and even from other countries. Kardec's is the most visited and most flowery tomb of all.

At the time of its inauguration, the dolmen did not register the famous phrase "To be born, to die, to be reborn yet and progress continuously, such is the law", which was still carved in 1870. Contrary to what is often stated, this phrase is not due verbatim to Kardec himself, despite correctly representing spiritist thinking (AK III 118-152).

1871 - (June) - Pierre-Gaëtan Leymarie takes over the management of Revue and Librairie Spirite (AK III 157).

1875 - The first Brazilian editions of Kardec's books are made public (except for the aforementioned booklet Spiritism in its simplest expression, published in São Paulo in 1862; see note 10 above): The Spirits' Book, ​ ​ The Mediums' Book and Heaven and Hell, translated by Fortúnio, ​ ​ pseudonym of Dr. Joaquim Carlos Travassos. The following year would also appear, by the same translator, The Gospel According to Spiritism. ​ ​ The editor of these works was B. L. Garnier, from Rio de Janeiro. (AK III ​ ​ 175-80)

1883 - (January 21) - Madame Allan Kardec dies. Two days after his body is buried next to that of the husband, in Père-Lachaise, leaving the coffin of his house in Villa Ségur. Amélie-Gabrielle Boudet was born in 1795, on November 23, and not on 21, as inscribed on the tomb. (AK III 158-60)

1883 - (January 21) - Foundation of the magazine Reformador, by ​ ​ Augusto Elias da Silva.

1884 - (January 2) - Foundation of the Brazilian Spiritist Federation, also by Augusto Elias da Silva.

1898 - Revue moves from Rue du Sommerard, 12 to Rue St.-Jacques, 42, ​ where he stayed for some decades; there today is Librairie Leymarie, which belonged to Pierre-Gaëtan Leymarie. (AK III 226-27)

1923 - Jean Meyer founds Maison des Spirites, on Rue Copernic, 8 (AK I 172; cf. however AK III 203 *). It contained important files that were destroyed by the Nazis. It hosted Éditions Jean Meyer (B.P.S), which published many of the classic works of Spiritism, as well as Revue, from 1923 to 1971, when Hubert Forestier died (AK III 227).

8. List of addresses:

Below is a list of the main addresses linked to Spiritism in France, designed to facilitate visits and location on maps:

1. Rue Sale, 76 (Lyon) - Place where Rivail was born.

2. Rue de la Harpe, 117 - Rivail was at that address in January 1823.

3. Rue Vaugirard, 65 - Rivail was at that address at least from 1828 to 1831.

4. Rue Christine, 5 - Imprimerie de Pilet-Ainé, which in 1824 published Rivail's first book.

5. Rue de Sèvres, 35 - Institution Rivail, from 1826 to 1834; Lycée Polymathique, until 1850.

6. Rue Grange-Batelière, 18 - House of Mrs. Plainemaison, where Rivail made his first observations, in May 1855.

7. Rue Rochechouart - Baudin Family, 1855. Here Rivail's systematic research began.

8. Rue Lamartine - New address for the Baudins, from 1856 onwards. Much of Kardec's initial work is carried out in the meetings of this family.

9. Rue Tiquetonne, 14 - Mr. Roustan's house. With the medium Miss. Japhet, Rivail developed important works, including the revision of the Spirits' Book.

10.Rue des Martyrs, 8 (second floor, at the end of the courtyard) - Residence of Rivail since at least March 1856, staying until 7/14/1860. In October 1857, there began the study meetings that would give rise to SPES. 1st ed. of The Spirits' Book (4/18/57) and the Revue Spirite (1/1/58) was launched.

1. Saint-Germain-en-Laye (23 km west of Paris) - Imprimerie de Beau, which printed the 1st ed. of The Spirits' Book and the Revue Spirite.

11.Galerie d'Orléans, 13 (Palais Royal) - Dentu, editor of the 1st ed. the Spirits' Book, Practical Instruction, Imitation and the Gospel.

12.Galerie d'Orléans, 31 (Palais Royal) - Ledoyen, editor of the 2nd ed. the Spirits 'Book, the Instruction, the Mediums' Book, Spiritism in its simplest Expression, the Spiritist Journey, Imitation, the Gospel and Heaven and Hell.

13.Galerie de Valois, 35 (Palais Royal) - SPES first address, from 1/4/58 (meetings on Tuesdays)

14.Galerie de Montpensier, 12 (Palais Royal; Douix restaurant) - second address from SPES, from 1/4/59.

15.Quai des Augustins, 35 - Didier et Cie, editor of the 2nd ed. the Spirits 'Book, the Mediums' Book and Heaven and Hell.

16.Rue Mazarine, 30 - Imprimerie de P.-A. Bourdier et Cie, who printed L'Imitation de l'Évangile, in April 1864.

17.Passage Sainte-Anne (Rue Sainte-Anne, 59) - SPES, from 4/20/60; Kardec and Revue Spirite's domicile, as of 7/15/60;

18.Villa Ségur (Av. De Ségur, 39) - house owned by Kardec since at least 1860, to which he would move permanently on 1/4/1869. The couple sometimes used the house to receive visits and to carry out jobs that required recollection. Amélie-Gabrielle stayed in it until her death in 1883. It was Kardec's wish that the house be transformed, when he and his wife were no longer incarnated, into a shelter for destitute spiritists.

19.Rue de Lille, 7 - Revue and SPES after Kardec's death (3/31/69); there Librairie Spirite already worked.

20.Rue du Sommerard, 12 - Hosted the Revue for a short period, from 1897 (when Librairie Spirite * was liquidated) to 1898 (AK III 202, 227 and 262).

21.Rue Saint-Jacques, 42 - Librairie Leymarie, which housed the Revue from 1898 until 1923 (AK III 227); it still exists today as a spiritualist bookstore.

22.Rue Copernic, 8 - Maison des Spirites, founded in 1923 by Jean Meyer (AK I 172), operated until the 1970s. *

23.Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 15 - Union Spirite Française, founded in 1919 Jean Meyer and Gabriel Delanne; replaced in 1976 by U.S.F.I.P.E.S.

24.Rue du Docteur Fournier, 1, 37000 Tours - Union Spirite Française et Francophone, which currently publishes La Revue Spirite.

25.Rue de Flandre, 131, Résidence Île de France, bâtiment E1, 75019 Paris, tel .: (01) 42090869- Center d’Études Spirites Allan Kardec (in operation).

26.Montmartre Cemetery (northern Paris) - Burial of Kardec on 2/4/69.

27.Père-Lachaise Cemetery (east of Paris) - Kardec's definitive grave, from 3/29/70; the dolmen is opened two days later.

Notes

1. The first edition of this biography dates from 1896 and was translated in the collection O Principiante Espírita, which FEB published in the past; the fourth edition was prefaced ​ by Léon Denis (see Allan Kardec, vol. I, pp. 200, 198 and 29; vol. II, p. 15). There are references to a "nouvelle édition", from 1910, with a preface by Gabriel Delanne (see ibid., Vol III, p. 117 and vol II, p. 15).

2. In Posthumous Works, p. 271, there is a communication attributed to the mediumship ​ ​ of Senhora ("Mme") Baudin; Was it a typographical error, or was she also a medium? Although on page 267 Kardec says that the mediums were "the two Miss Baudin", in the transcribed mediumistic communications he never specifies which one served as a medium, simply writing "MlleBaudin". In the 1858 Revue Spirite (see AK II 64-65) Kardec explicitly refers to a series of communications transmitted by Caroline, noting, incidentally, that "later the medium used direct psychography". In OP 271 Kardec reports that at the end of 1857 both were married and the family dispersed, implying that he could no longer count on his mediumship. In his controversial comments on the bilingual edition of the first edition of The Spirits' Book (p. Viii), Canuto Abreu advances ​ that Caroline and her sister were, in August 1855, 16 and 14 years old, respectively, and that the oldest was main medium; we were unable to confirm this information from independent sources.

3. These words that follow the title are those on the title page of the work (see facsimile on page 75 of AK II). Similar observations apply to the other Kardec books mentioned in the following sections.

4. In 1866 he suffered a serious health crisis, resulting from an overload of work and worries, being assisted by Dr. Demeure, who warned him about the limits of bodily forces. At the insistence of that Spirit, Kardec started counting, for common correspondence and the most material part of the tasks, with the help of a secretary, Mr. A. Desliens, medium and member of SPES (*** AK III 111, 286 , 301, 302 and 42). With the disincarnation of the master in March 1869, Desliens remained as managing secretary of Revue, until June 1871 (AK III 157, 136).

5. Union Spirite Française was founded by Jean Meyer and Gabriel Delanne in 1919, having no direct relationship with the former SPES, which ended its activities in the last century, not long after Kardec's death. (AK II 16 and 17; III 156)

6. News published in Reformer, April and May 1990, pp. 128 and 130, respectively; see also La Revue Spirite, January 1997 (No. 30), p. 7. Signatures can be made by writing ​ ​ to the address of the USFF: 1, Rue du Docteur Fournier, 37000 Tours, France. In addition to editing La Revue Spirite, Union, promotes exchanges between spiritist ​ ​ groups in France (just over a dozen, most recently created), and has represented the French spiritist movement at the international level. As can be seen from an article by Affonso Soares published in Reformador de November 1986 (p. 341), the USFF would have been founded in late 1985, together with an official publication, the Revue des Spirites. However, in the June 1989 issue of the Febian journal, the same author says that Union was founded in 1987; this information seems to us to be incorrect. In this most recent article it is also stated that the quarterly publication is called La Nouvelle ​ Revue Spirite. Thus, before being able to recover the title 'La Revue Spirite', the ​ ​ ​ courageous Spiritist group of Tours would have given its magazine two other names.

7. Pierre-Paul Didier was one of the most dedicated collaborators of Kardec, founding member of SPES, having worked as a medium in it (AK III 377, 79, 323 and 82); disembodied on 12/2/1865, but as a spirit he remained directly involved in Kardec's activities (ibid. 85, 92, 289).

8. We didn't see the first edition; in the editions to which we had access, there is disagreement as to the text that follows the title. What we translate is in the current edition of Dervy. In the news of the second edition of The Spirits' Book (see facsimile in ​ the April 1989 Reformer, p. 105) it is as follows: "Introduction à la connaissance du ​ monde invisible ou des Esprits, contenant les principes fondamentaux de la doctrine spirite et la réponse à quelques objections préjudicielles." What is found in AK III 13 corresponds approximately to that text.

9. It was noted, at a relatively recent time (see Reformer, April 1989, pp. 104-107), that Kardec attached some notes and errata to the second edition, designed to complement and correct the text. It was also possible to verify that in the eighth edition they still appeared; it is not known from which edition they stopped appearing, nor why Kardec was unable to insert the corrections and additions by recasting the text. Unfortunately, neither the current French editions nor the translations for the vernacular incorporate or even mention the modifications, which Kardec himself considered essential. It seems to us of the utmost importance that this material is made public in full, and that it is incorporated into the new editions.

10. In AK III 18, 176 and 353-54, three old translations are reported: one by Alexandre Canu, SPES collaborator, "which was for sale with JP Aillaud, Monlon and C ..., in Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro and Paris (1862); another published in São Paulo, without indication of translator, by Typographia Litteraria (1866); and finally another by FEB, translated and annotated by Guillon Ribeiro (the date of the first edition is not mentioned, saying only that there are still exemplary archives from 1921 and 1933).

11. This point is highlighted on the cemetery map itself. In the early hours of July 2, 1989, the tomb suffered a bomb attack, which partially damaged it, and was later restored by the City of Paris. (Reformer, July 1989, p. 194, and September 1990, p. ​ ​ 284.)

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Translated from Portuguese to English by Google Translate. Original Text