Par Jean-Baptiste Panthot, Docteur en médecine de l’université de Montpelier & Doyen au collège des médecins de Lyon.
LYON, Thomas AMAULRY, 1691.
In-12 de 145x86mm, de [2] ff. Front. [11] ff. 93 pp. [1] f.
18th-century binding in full blond calf, flat spine with gilt title label on red Moroccan. The rest of the spine is segmented with gilt chains and four fanciful gilt motifs. The two covers are framed with a gilt fillet with four spandrels.
Red edges. Marbled paper endpapers in shades of red.
A very rare first edition that addresses the question of the famous metamorphosis that transforms old serpents into dragons, giving them legs, wings, and a carbuncle to light them in the darkness.
The book begins with a letter addressed to Messire Antoine d'Acquin, the King's advisor in all his councils and his chief physician. It is followed by a note to the reader, an approval from Mr. Falconet, doctor and inspector appointed by the King for medical books. Two other approvals and two permissions to print follow.
"This indubitable experience must convince those who too easily, or weakly, believe lies as truth, and who place complete faith in everything they hear without any distinction or knowledge."
J.B. Panthot
"This research is filled with beautiful letters and erudition: the vulgar and the common people are not only debunked, but true physicists are very usefully instructed."
Falconet
The treatise is a small volume of 93 pages. Very interesting and easy to read, it is structured in two main parts: the first deals with the existence of dragons, the second with the carbuncle. Panthot adopts a critical and rationalist approach, relying on naturalist observations and rational arguments to demystify these legendary creatures.
He notably cites Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, one of the great explorers and gemstone connoisseurs of the 17th century, who saw no trace of animals resembling the descriptions of dragons during his many travels.
But also no trace of the carbuncle in the fabulous treasure of the Great Mughal, Emperor Aurangzeb, who granted Tavernier the honor of examining the most beautiful gems in his hoard in 1665. (1)
Printed in Lyon by Thomas Amaulry. An influential printer-bookseller from Paris, he was known for his commercial skills in negotiating privileges. Indeed, this is a period in the 17th century when the majority of privileges were granted, in an absolutist manner, to the great Parisian booksellers and extended by "continuations of privileges," renewals granted to privilege holders, allowing them to maintain their exclusivity for an extended period, often in exchange for payment.(2)
Two years later, in 1693, Amaulry printed another treatise for Jean-Baptiste Panthot: le Traitté de la baguette, ou La recherche des véritables usages ausquels elle convient pour la découverte des voleurs, des meurtriers, sur la terre & sur les eaux, des bornes, des trésors, des vipes, des corps noyez, & des plusieurs autres experiences tres-curieuses contenues dans cet ouvrage.
In the half-title, Jean-Baptiste Panthot presents himself as "Counsellor and Physician to the King, Dean of the College of Physicians of Lyon." We found no trace of this "promotion," and we might wonder if it served to strengthen the author's credibility or facilitate the printing of the book with Amaulry.
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k58186972/f9.item
(1) "Le Fabuleux Destin des diamants de Tavernier. Du grand Moghol au Roi-Soleil" L'École des Art Joailliers. 2018
(2) Henriette Pommier “Le privilège partagé : Le cas d’Antoine Dezallier à Paris et Thomas Amaulry à Lyon”
A rare work, WorldCat and the USTC list numerous digital versions, but we found only five printed copies in total:
The British Library, St. Pancras, Montpellier University of the History of Medicine, Bibliothèque des Annonciades. Boulogne-sur-Mer, Lyon Claude Bernard University and the BNF.
Bibliographies:
Caillet. 8277
Brunet IV. 349
For more information:
The digitized book is available on the BNF website: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k8702309p/f5.planchecontact.r=dragons%20escarboucles
Condition: last leaf restored, scattered soiling, some water stains, the book is in good condition.
