Dialogues sur les plaisirs, sur les passions; sur le merite des femmes, et sur leur sensibilité pour l’honneur. Dediez à son Altesse Royale Madame.
Paris: 1717, Top corners lightly worn, contemporary owner's signature on title-page. A little minor foxing. A very good, clean copy. Contemporary calf, gilt spine with burgundy morocco label, edges stained red. Twelvemo. [20], 269, [3] pp. Item #16589
This is an interesting collection of four dialogues between the fictional Cléanthe and Euthyme: I. Sur les plaisirs & sur les passions en général; II. Sur les mauvais penchans, & sur l’amour du plaisir; III. Sur les merite des femmes, & sur leur sensibilité pour l’honneur; IV. Sur le jugement que les plus grands Hommes & les plus célèbres Nations ont fait des Femmes. The author, whose dates are not known, was “Secretaire au Traité de la Paix de Riswick.” This refers to the Ryswick Treaty of 1697, which ended the Nine Years War and forced Louis XIV to give up some of his territorial acquisitions. The book is dedicated to the author’s “Altesse Royale Madame,” and Dupuy la Chapelle states that he intends his book to defend the honor of women, and to foster a strong tenderness and respect between the sexes. The author produced several other works, primarily on manners, education, and human relationships.
OCLC lists five copies of this book, at Berkeley, the Library of Congress, New York Public Library, Princeton, and Queen’s University in Ontario. Cioranescu 26965.
Price: $1,500.00