[NOUGARET (Pierre-Jean-Baptiste)]. *Les Mille et une folies* - Lot 126

[NOUGARET (Pierre-Jean-Baptiste)]. *Les Mille et une folies*, French tales. Amsterdam, and available in Paris, Veuve Duchesne, 1771. 4 volumes in-12, light calfskin, triple gilt fillet, smooth spine decorated with grotesque motifs, interior roulette, gilt edges (contemporary binding). A rare first edition of this work, whose title is borrowed from *The Thousand and One Nights*, containing the story of a family interspersed with numerous romantic episodes and anecdotes, sometimes set against a backdrop of adultery, prostitution, quackery, and revenge. (Gay-Lemonnyer, vol. III, col. 225.) Among other things, it includes the story of a young convulsionary, the follies of a German baroness, extravagant love affairs, the marvelous adventures of a sorcerer, and so on. Of particular note is a very sordid tale titled *Unheard-of Cruelties Committed by a Physician Out of a Love for Experiments* (vol. IV, pp. 229–237), and an interesting definition of *spleen* provided by the author on p. 177 of vol. III. A delightful copy, very beautifully bound in light calfskin contemporary to the work. A section of paper is missing with a small tear, but no loss of text, on folio L11 of Volume II. Some quires are heavily foxed. Slight scuffing on the binding.

Estimate:$680.43

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