CAJOT (Dom Joseph) - In praise of the donkey. Par un docteur - Lot 128

CAJOT (Dom Joseph) - In praise of the donkey. Par un docteur de Montmartre. London and Paris, Delaguette, 1769; in-12, 259 pp. in contemporary full marbled calf binding, smooth spine decorated, speckled edges, red morocco title page. First edition of this amusing social satire, published anonymously at a false London address and attributed to Dom Joseph Cajot (1726-1779), a Benedictine monk from Saint-Vanne. It is one of the caustic works inspired by the "Académie de Montmartre", a fanciful society stigmatizing ignorance and foolishness. There were many donkeys in Montmartre, due to the work of the mills. Barbier, V, 63; Quérard, I, 968; Dinaux & Brunet, Les sociétés badines, bachiques, littéraires et chantantes..., II, Paris, 1842, p. 68. Consultant: Mr Philippe HENRY