Mémoire au roi, pour le Sr. Joseph Lesurques, né à Douai...

First edition. One folding engraving before the title page in line.
Contemporary half calf binding. Smooth spine decorated with 5 fleurons and roulettes. Bordeaux shagreen title label. Two tears with slight lacks on either side of the head cap. Spine rubbed and head cap browned. Upper joint cracked and open.
Lesurques is one of the most famous victims of judicial error. He was unjustly arrested due to his resemblance to one Dubosc, in the Lyon mail coach affair of 1796, a famous case of robbery with murder of the courier. Lesurques was beheaded with Courriol. Dubosc, finally arrested in 1798, was also executed and Lesurques recognized as innocent. The family demanded Lesurques' rehabilitation for more than 60 years but obtained only partial reparation. Salgues, taking up the entire affair and all the case files in this work, becomes the spokesman for the unfortunate family demanding reparation for Lesurques' memory. There would be a rehabilitation trial in 1823.
Inscription on the half-title page: Hommage à Mr Phillipon de la Marnière de la part de l'infortuné famille Lesurques. ["Tribute to Mr Phillipon de la Marnière from the unfortunate Lesurques family."]