ALPHABET DE L'IMPERFECTION ET MALICE DES FEMMES. Reueu, corrigé & augmenté d'vn Friant Dessert pour les Courtizans & Partisanes de la Femme Mondaine. Dédié à la plus mauuaise du monde
Paris: Petit-Pas, 1619. Third Edition. Hardcover. Duodecimo (3-1/8" x 5-1/4") bound in full 18th century calf with the insignia of Montgomery stamped in blind to the front board, recent gilt-lettered black morocco spine label; 360, 70, (23, [1]) pages. Contains the first issue of the "Portraict racourcy d'une femme mondaine pour le friant dessert des courtizans et partizans," with separate pagination. First appearing in 1617, this wildly misogynistic work caused quite a reaction in its day. The woodcut figure on the title-page is believed to represent Marguerite de Valois, to whom the work is dedicated ("la plus mauvaise du monde"), shown full-length with snakes for hair, suckling a cat on each breast, holding a headless chicken, and with talons for feet. "Jacques Olivier" was the pseudonym of the Cordelier Alexis Trousset. Brunet (IV-182) notes that all of the early editions are equally valued. OCLC locates 5 copies, 2 in the United States. Margins trimmed close occasionally affecting a running head or page number but not the text; small stain on two facing pages. Slight cracking to joints. Near Fine and scarce. Item #019170
Price: $2,000.00