Morale de Confucius, philosophe de la Chine.

12mo: [12]-197-[3 bl.] pp.; 1 portr. (portr. sl. brown., sl. offsetting on the title-page, occ. foxing and sm. stains, sm. hole on f. C1).

Contemp. marbled sheepskin, gilt triple fillet around the boards, flat gilt-tooled spine, title-label, a.e.g. (used, rubbed with some sm. lacks of leather on turn-ins, corners and cuts, one joint fragilized).

Cazin-edition (1st ed.: Amsterdam, 1688) of this comment on Confucius, one of the first work on the Chinese philosopher published in Europe. Complete with the frontispiece portrait of Confucius, engraved by Remi-Henri-Joseph Delvaux. The attribution to de Labrune is challenged by the bibliographers, because he was Protestant but the "Avertissement" is obviously written by a Catholic. The other presumed author would be the President Cousin (1627-1707), editor of the "Journal des savants". The text is followed by a "Lettre sur la Morale de Confucius" by the Abbé Simon Foucher (signed S.F.), and dated 23th Jan. 1688. Ref. Barbier III:351-352. - Fontaine 15. - CCFr. Prov. [Georges Petit].