De l'excellence et de la supériorité de la femme

De l'excellence et de la supériorité de la femme Very rare first edition of this 16th century text, translated and commented by Roétitg, pseudonym of François Peyrard.

Posterior binding in half red morocco, spine in five compartments decorated with gilt fillets, paste paper boards, marbled endpapers. Some rubbing and joints lightly cracked at the top, otherwise pleasant copy.

Provenance: the library of Armand Cigongne and I. Fernandez with their ex-libris glued to the first pastedown endpaper.

“The great Agrippa demonstrated, at the beginning of the fifteenth century, that woman is infinitely above man. When the treatise of this philosopher came to light, men, fearing losing the unjust supremacy which they had assumed for themselves, conspired to have this writing suppressed. They would have succeeded in annihilating this immortal work, and burning Agrippa, as an atheist and a magician, without the powerful protection of Marguerite of Austria. Fortunately, we are no longer in those times when anyone who dared to make a truth useful to the human race known was roasted without pity. Today, proclaiming one's pre-eminence is allowed without having anything to fear from the wickedness of men. The ingrates! They forget that, without you, life would be an unbearable burden. They enjoy your intoxicating favors, and they insult you! O Agrippa! of all men, we are the only ones, you and I, whose self-love has not blinded us [...] But, O Women! it is not enough that it be demonstrated to you that you are better than us; the universe still has to recognize this truth. It is a sure way to triumph your cause. Swear all, henceforth to grant your good graces only to those who will revere the great truths exposed in the sublime treatise of Agrippa, and in my modest commentary.” (preface)

An essential piece!