Lettres de Nedim Coggia, Revües, Corrigées et Augmentées

New edition, partly original (cf. Quérard VII, 308. See Blackmer and Atabey for other editions. Not in Conlon.)

Contemporary full mottled fawn calf binding, smooth spine decorated with panels adorned with a bird tool surrounded by small gilt fleurons, green calf title-piece, gilt fillets to edges, red edges.

Spine and joints restored.

The title-page is engraved and enhanced with wash (two Turks in conversation with a European).

"This work contains [the 21] letters of Neddim Coggia, supposedly describing his experiences in Paris as secretary to the embassy of Mehemet Effendi in 1721 (…) Blackmer incorrectly states that the Letters of Nedim Coggia and the 'Lettres Turques' are the same work. The latter was originally issued as 'Lettres d'une Turque à Paris', first published in 1730, and purports to be the letters of a Turkish woman who fled the serail to marry an Italian living in Paris. The original fourteen letters include novelettes and stories". Cf. Leonora Navari.

Pages [163] to 228 contain an agreeable theatrical "turquerie" entitled Les Veuves, whose characters are Osmin, Nassissa, Nectabi and a Jewish woman. "La Scene est à Constantinople dans un Sallon qui sépare l'Appartement de Nassissa de celui de Nectabi".

A pleasant copy with a spine decorated "à l'oiseau".

Manuscript bookplate "Joannes Carolus Ledesma" on the front pastedown.

The playwright and historian Germain François Poullain de Saint-Foix (Rennes, 1699 – Paris 1776), elder brother of Poullain du Parc, "served in the regiment of musketeers, was aide-de-camp to the Marshal de Broglie and showed his valour at the battle of Guastalla (1734). He left the army in 1736 to purchase in Rennes the office of master of waters and forests.

He came to Paris in 1740. As early as 1721, out of love for an actress, he had composed a comedy.

In 1726–1727, he had three others performed. He resumed writing not only for the theatre, but also on historical subjects. He is recognized as a perceptive and witty observer, a writer of simple and pleasing style. He was an opponent of the philosophers. His studies earned him the title of historiographer of the Order of the Saint-Esprit.

Of an impetuous temperament, he engaged in famous quarrels and duels". Cf. Grente (ed. Moureau), p. 1057.