[RESTIF DE LA BRETONNE]. *Les Nouveaux mémoires d'un homme-d - Lot 148

[RESTIF DE LA BRETONNE]. *Les Nouveaux mémoires d'un homme-de-qualité*. Printed in The Hague, and available in Paris, Veuve Duchesne, De-Hansy, 1774. 2 volumes in one in-12 volume, red morocco leather, triple gilt fillet, decorated spine, green title label, inner roulette, red edges (contemporary binding). Very rare first edition, printed in a run of 750 copies. (Lacroix, pp. 118–123.) *Les Nouveaux mémoires*, whose title echoes that of Abbé Prévost’s novel, is divided into four books and contains the first sketch of Restif’s affair with Mademoiselle Alan, later detailed in *Monsieur Nicolas*, as well as the *Medical Thesis Defended in Hell*, which is a plea in favor of Dr. de Préval and his anti-venereal condom. A very complete copy of the epistle to Madame D.***, *Beaux rêves* (50 pages), *The Secret of Being Loved After Forty, and Even at Every Age of Life, Even If One Is Ugly Enough to Frighten* (14 pages), and the three unnumbered folios containing the errata and a promotional summary of the book. A few pinholes and foxing spots; a tear without loss at the bottom of folio L2 in the second part. The copy has been rebound with a replaced title label.

Estimate:£428.75

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