Pithecologia, sive de Simiarum Natura, Carminum libri duo [Pithecology, or on the Nature of the Apes, two books of poems, in favor of the Literary Republic]

Amstelaedami: Ex Typographia Gerardi Tielenburg, 1774. First Edition. Hardcover. Good. 12mo 7" - 7. Uncommon in the trade, there being currently only a single additional copy available on-line. Appears to be one of only two titles by the author (the other, held in the Esther Bobst Library at N.Y.U., is Seculum Philosophicum . . . ) and the only edition thereof, according to Worldcat dot org; located only in three U.S. and one U.K. libraries. The title page continues: "In gratiam Reipublicae Literariae," by Alexander Thomassen (1726-1798), published in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, by Gerardi Tielenburg (1734-1776), & Sociorum, in 1774. Previous owner (a bookseller and appraiser, fluent in Latin) denotes "eighteenth-century acid-treated calf" over boards, with newer, finely tooled backstrip, with gilt lettering and fleurs-de-lis, title stamped in gilt over a short strip of burgundy leather. Front and rear boards blind-ruled. Wave-patterned, comb-marbled endpapers front and rear, still quite sturdily bound, with only slightly wavy text-block, moderately to heavily toned, but easily readable. Elaborate title-page vignette depicting an exemplar of Homo sapiens teaching fire-making to bipedal but non-human primate members. Opposite, at frontis, is a spectacular black-and-white engraving depicting God (Zeus?), thunderbolts in one fist, sceptre in another, looking down, six primates looking up in supplication, all with tails, but one with an 18th-century coiffure. Additional fine engraved tails. Text wholly in Latin. Another reviewer (fluent in Latin) writes "A curious, satirical, and sometimes serious, piece of hexametric neo-latin poetry." The author's "Prooemium" mentions Aldrovandus, Jonston, Linnaeus, Brisson, Buffon, thus invoking science, reason, and perhaps the first stirrings of evolution, at least relatedness of primate species, in a way that presupposed Lamarck. Frontispiece, 61 [3] pp., the final being a page of errata. All in, a scarce title in robust condition suitable for preservation for another couple hundred years.Member, I.O.B.A., C.B.A., and adherent to the highest ethical standards. Additional postage may be required for oversize or especially heavy volumes, and for sets.