Le nouvel Abaillard ou lettres d'un singe, au docteur Abadolfs ; traduites de l'Allemand

First edition, rare.
Contemporary brown marbled sheep binding. Spine with raised bands decorated with 5 fleurons. Tan morocco title-label. 2 scratches to upper board. One corner slightly bumped. Handsome copy.
Curious work in which an ape has been raised by a philosopher and finds himself the author of these letters. Poor, the philosopher Abadolf must give his daughter to his uncle residing in France, a crude merchant whose only knowledge is arithmetic. He sends with her his ape who will thus write him letters about his daughter's existence and education. His letters will be a pretext to philosophize and criticize the French spirit. The book is also a plea against natural law and against Rousseau's La nouvelle Héloïse.