Jacques Joseph DUGUET

First edition. The Lettres sur les novices which form the beginning of the work had already appeared several times; moreover, this collection of letters would be expanded several times until it reached 4 volumes. The title page of the first volume does not indicate volume numbering, the second volume, dated 1726, indicates Tome second; this is also a very first edition published as a sequel to the 1708 edition.
Contemporary full red morocco binding. Richly decorated raised spine. Gilt title and volume number with decorations. Triple fillet frame on boards with corner fleurons. Upper joint of volume I cracked 1cm at head. Sumptuous gold-ground paper on endpapers with polychrome flowers. Handsome morocco copies with small brown stains on boards.
These letters deal with various subjects of piety and morality, on novices and how to guide them when they enter religious life, on death, on consolation in Jesus Christ, Lent, confession... Duguet was a member of the Oratorians and close to Jansenist ideas, ideas which obliged him to leave his first church and join Antoine Arnault and Pasquier in Brussels.
Manuscript ownership inscription on endpaper: Ludovici Baugé clerici andegavensis.

New edition revised and preceded by a preface by Sylvestre de Sacy.
Full navy blue shagreen bindings, spine with four raised bands set with gilt fillets decorated with double gilt compartments embellished with gilt typographical motifs, gilt roulettes on the headcaps, frame of quadruple gilt fillets on the covers enriched at the corners with gilt typographical motifs, frame of gilt dentelle on the pastedowns, white watered silk endpapers and pastedowns, soiled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt pointillé on the edges, all edges gilt, elegant unsigned bindings.
Pen gift inscription at the head of an endpaper of the first volume as a present.
Handsome copy in elegant decorative binding.