Oeuvres galantes

Second edition, rare, augmented with the second volume which appears in first edition and illustrated with two unsigned title-frontispieces. The first volume alone had initially appeared in 1663. Note that the most important pieces had appeared under the name "Oeuvres meslées" in 1659.
Full wine-red morocco binding from early 20th century, elegant pastiche of a contemporary binding. Smooth spine decorated with gilt title and date. Triple fillet frame on covers. Gilt edges. Spine infinitesimally and uniformly lightened. Handsome copy.
Abbé Cotin is an essential figure of 17th-century literary salons, and Molière caricatured him as Abbé Trissotin in "Les femmes savantes". He invented a game for these same salons, the riddle poem of which "Les énigmes de ce temps, et les bouts rimez" are testimony. He was the fashionable poet of this era, eagerly supplying gallant and light poetry of which "L'uranie" dedicated to Marguerite de Rohan is a model. The works also contain "Les épigrammes", "Les amours du jour et de la nuit", various prose pieces, notes and other letters, all bearing the seal of gallantry, light libertinage and good-natured humor.