[BOUGEANT (Guillaume Hyacinthe)] - Lot 387

[BOUGEANT (Guillaume Hyacinthe)] Amusement philosophique sur le langage des bestes. Paris, Gissey ; Bordelet ; Ganeau, 1739. (Followed by) LA FAILLE (Clément de) : Essai sur l'histoire naturelle de la Taupe, et sur les différens moyens que l'on peut employer de les détruire. La Rochelle, Legier, 1769. 2 works in one volume in-12: 2f, 157pp, (5) (leaves F2 and F3 missing, bound as is) - 1f, 122pp. 2f. (privilege leaves bound after page 118); 2 folding plates. Spotting. ½ contemporary fawn calf, ornate smooth spine, red title-piece, wear rubs. First edition of this satirical work critical of Descartes' theory of machine animals, mocking Cartesians and the question of soul and reason. Provenance: Printed bookplate from the library of René Amédée Choppin (de Villy), bibliophile and head of department at the Banque de France. His library was sold in 1920.