Versailles (Yvelines)

Original edition reprinted at Smyrna (in reality Versailles), under the supervision of Mr. John Strafford (in fact by Moutardier); (cf. Quérard VI, 576; Drujon, Livres à clefs, I, 625.)

Contemporary half mottled fawn sheep, smooth spine tooled with gilt hatched fillets, brick-coloured sheep lettering-piece, a few small losses to the spine, yellow edges sprinkled with blue.

Sole edition of this manifestly pseudepigraphic and encrypted work, suppressed by order of the Consular government, which accounts for its marked scarcity.

A vehement critique of prevailing political and social institutions; however, it appears very difficult to connect the author with the renowned Lille bookselling dynasty of the same period.

Very rare first edition of the author's very first work, in which he clearly sought to draw attention during this period of revival of the national stud farms, abolished during the Revolution and officially reinstated in 1806 (see Mennessier de La Lance II, 138).

Contemporary full marbled fawn calf, flat spine richly gilt with garlands, Greek keys, floral tools and geometric motifs, green morocco title labels, gilt rolls on the almost faded caps, gilt ornamental borders on covers, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt fillet on edges, worn corners, sprinkled edges.

Facing the title page, signed autograph inscription by Louis de Maleden to "Messieurs Talendier et Laforest," in which he mentions the publication of his Plan organique, which appeared in 1805 followed this first work.

Ex-libris label of Waldemar Schwalbe, dated 1937, pasted on the front pastedown.