RESTIF DE LA BRETONNE. LES PARISIENNES, ou XL caractères gén - Lot 81

RESTIF DE LA BRETONNE. LES PARISIENNES, ou XL caractères généraux pris dans les mœurs actuelles, propres à servir à l'instruction des Personnes-du-Sexe... Neufchâtel and Paris, Guillot, 1787. 4 volumes in-12 of 300 ; 388 ; 392 ; 380-[4] pages, bradel half-percaline with corners, untrimmed (V. Champs). ORIGINAL EDITION and first printing of the 21 very fine, unsigned and uncaptioned engravings, placed out of order in this copy, including one double engraving (VI). "They are very singular. They offer heads of women so varied and so piquant, that one can take them for portraits; it is necessary to attribute the composition to the whim of Restif...". The latter claimed to teach women the means of preserving men's taste, a teaching divided into 4 parts according to the stages of pre-marriage or marriage (Lacroix, p.247) (Rives-Childs, p. 302). Provenances: Emile Villeneuve-Butel (bookplate) - G. (Georges). H. (Hugnet) (Ex-libris with the motto Mieux vaut plus tôt) - Illegible armorial ex-libris stamp on a title.