Sentimens Et Maximes Sur ce qui se passe Dans La Societé Civile.
Paris, L. Josse 1697.
8vo (167 x 105 mm.). [iix], 43, [1]p.
Contemporary speckled calf (minor defects), spine and title gilt, edges sprinkled red and brown.
Only Edition. D’Ailly holds up a harsh mirror to the salon culture of the period, rife with transactional selfishness, jealousy, revenge, petty ambition and lust. His prose maxims treat public conduct, private reflection, self-knowledge, character, commerce, war, women’s role in society, etc. In good condition.
¶Montandon, Bibliographie des traités de savoir-vivre I: 73; Toinet, “Les Écrivains moralistes au XVIIe siècle” in Revue d’histoire littéraire de la France 25 (1918) 472; Cioranescu 6700.
Price: $2,800.00