Philatelic Document - Cesar-Pierre Richelet 1626

César-Pierre Richelet 1626–1698 Apart from lexicographers, who today knows César-Pierre Richelet? Yet Richelet is nothing less than the inventor of the modern dictionary in France! He was, in fact, the author of the first monolingual dictionary of the French language, the *Dictionnaire françois*, published in 1680 in Geneva. Why Geneva? Because the Académie française, founded in 1635 by Richelieu, was still, forty years later, working on its own dictionary and held the exclusive royal privilege to publish such a work in France. But, weary of the Academy’s slow progress, some members hatched a plan to preempt the Academy by compiling a rival dictionary. A daring project, to say the least! They therefore needed to find a man capable of seeing the project through. That man was Pierre Richelet. Why him, and who was he? Richelet was born in 1626 in Cheminon. After serving as a college regent, a tutor, and then a lawyer, he quickly abandoned the bar to devote himself to literature and the study of languages. A translator, a poet of the galant and satirical traditions, and a specialist in versification, he eventually made a name for himself in academic circles—not only for his knowledge of languages, but also (and perhaps above all?) for his strong-willed character. Richelet was a man of conviction, independent, and readily caustic. His outspokenness and satirical wit earned him many enemies, but also a reputation as a free spirit, endowed with great intellectual independence. The *Dictionnaire françois* reflects his personality: “a sort of adventurer,” as he described himself. But a learned adventurer: a rich vocabulary, clear definitions, examples that are at times outlandish and impertinent—in which he settles scores—and quotations from great authors form the foundation of the work’s originality. The *Dictionnaire françois* was an immediate success and was reprinted many times throughout the 18th century. It remains a pleasure to read today, as it bears witness to the freedom of spirit of the “honest man” of the late 17th century. Richelet died in Paris on November 23, 1698, at the age of 72. Through his high standards, his independent spirit, and his focus on the French language as it was actually used, he is a founding figure of modern lexicography.

Timbre-poste (taille-douce) : création et gravure Louis Genty d'après photos, portrait premier plan César-Pierre Richelet © Memento Images / Aurimages ; symboles arrière-plan Dictionnaire françois © César-Pierre Richelet / BnF. Texte : Alain Herbland. Document philatélique : création Louis Genty. Cachet d'oblitération : conception Louis Genty d’après symboles Dictionnaire françois.