Critique de l'histoire des flagellans, et justification de l'usage des disciplines volontaires.

12mo: [38]-420-[2] pp. (sl. marg. damp stain in begin.).

Contemp. calf, gilt orn. spine with raised bands, gilt and marbled edges (joints repaired, corners bumped).

First edition of the refutation of Boileau's work "Histoire des flagellans" (1st Latin: 1700; 1st Fr. ed.: 1701), in which the French theologian Boileau was probably the first to link ascetic beatings with sexual arousal. J.-B. Thiers starts with mocking Boileau (1636-1703) for his poor Latin and then he details the use of voluntary flagellation by religious orders.
Ref. Quérard IX:428.
Prov. F.R. Bataille, 1748 (ms. entry).