[Nicolas-Pierre-Henri de MONTFAUCON DE VILLARS]. Le Comte de - Lot 38

[Nicolas-Pierre-Henri de MONTFAUCON DE VILLARS]. Le Comte de Cabalis, ou Entretiens sur les sciences secretes... Paris, Claude Barbin, 1670. In-12, blood-red morocco, double fillets on covers, 5-nerved spine decorated in the same style, gilt fillet inside, gilt edges (A. Lobstein). Caillet, III-7701 / Cioranescu, II-50058 / Dorbon, 3144 /// (2f.)-327. First edition of this work, which cost the life of its author, who was assassinated at the age of 38, in 1673, in reprisal, it is believed, for his indiscretions, revelations and mockery of the Kabbalists and Rosicrucians (Caillet). The work consists of five dialogues in which the Comte de Cabalis presents his "disciple" with cabalistic theories based on the existence of elemental peoples of the four elements, gnomes (earth), nymphs (water), sylphs (air) and salamanders (fire). This theory is taken from the works of Paracelsus. Illegible stamp on title. Binding unevenly faded; angular repair to one leaf.