Palissy, Bernard | Le Moyen de devenir riche

Bernard Palissy

Le Moyen de devenir riche, et la maniere veritable par laquelle tous les hommes de la France pourront apprendre a multiplier & augmenter leurs thresors & possessions. Paris: R. Fouet, 1636

8vo (168 x 105 mm), 2 parts in 1 volume; Occasional light toning and pale spotting. Contemporary vellum, manuscript spine title; some light rubbing and creasing, spine title a faded but still legible, lacking ties.

First collected edition of Palissy's two major works: La Recepte Veritable and Discours admirables. In the former, Palissy discusses a variety of topics, including agriculture (for which he proposed better methods of farming and the use of fertilizers), geology (in which he touched upon the origin of salts, springs, precious stones, and rock formations), mines, and forestry. He also suggested plans for an ideal garden, to be decorated with his earthenware and with biblical quotations.

REFERENCES

Ward and Carozzi, 1718

PROVENANCE

Joseph A. Freilich (booklabel; January 11, 2001, lot 421)