Observations sur un manuscrit intitulé "Traité du péculat".

12mo: [12]-288 pp. (some min. (damp)staining, first flylvs dampstained).

Contemp. vellum, flat ink titled spine (corners sl. rubbed, tail def.).

First edition without name or place but publ. by Foppens. Le Vayer de Boutigny (1627-1685) was a French lawyer by the Parliament of Paris from 1645, then a master of requests from 1671. He also was author of novels, plays and short stories as well as political and legal treatises. "Le péculat" means the theft of public funds by those who administer them. This was punished by death under Roman law, but not by French law. This work caused quite some turmoil. Boutigny was accused of defending Nicolas Fouquet (1615-1680), Superintendent of Finance in France under King Louis XIV, who a few years earlier had been arrested and accused of embezzlement. This is why Boutigny wrote these "Observations" in the form of a dialogue where he discusses the validity of the French law against peculation.
Ref. Barbier II:490. - Willems 2023. - Rahir 3155. - Berghman 278. - STCN. - BnF. - Not in STCV.
Prov. Some old ms. notes on first pastedown.