Publisher/Printers Decoration

Another recent find from my bookcase this is a difficult one, there are lots of references to the content but the only detail I can locate about an actual book appears in a Christies auction listing, but this appears to be referring to a privately commissioned, 18 th Century reprint, based on this edition.

Extremely fragile and not possible to flat scan hence the poor images.

Later outer cover

This Book Title Page

La Grande et Véritable Pronostication des Cons sauvages, avec la maniere de les aprivoiser, nouvellement imprimé par l’autorité de l’Abbé des Conars. À Lyon: Chez Jean de la Montagne, 1610.

(auto translation)

(The Great and True Prognostication of the Savage Cons, with the Manner of Priving Them, newly printed by the authority of the Abbot of the Conars. À Lyon: Chez Jean de la Montagne, 1610.)

Small pamphlet in later protective card cover, original printed paper wraps preserved, one of only one hundred copies on papier Verge. Contents 12 numbered pages (Roman Numerals), pagination appears to include covers and title page, series is, cover with printed title; limitation on verso; Full title page with publishers decoration; blank verso followed by 9 pages of verse. 2 blank end papers inc outer cover.

Contents

Original Cover

Limitation

Title Page

The Text Introduction

Pages Numbered VI and VII

Pages numbered VIII and IX

Pages Numbered X and XI

Page numbered XII

These appear to be  Rabelaisian Jokes or satires  of a risqué nature that were probably considered pornographic and subject to being banned.

Below is symbol that appears in Carrington’s” The Old Man young again—” 1898. It is placed ahead of the the Authors Prologue , prior to P253. and is a direct translation of the French title of the the book that is the subject of this listing.

In true Carrington style,  the following pages to P 265 are complete Victorian grand verbosity. 

There is far too much text in the, Authors Prologue for it to be  based it entirely on our book, But the thing that both have in common, is constant references to “Cons”, in out 1610 edition, and ” Coyntes” in the Carrington.

Both words are vulgar slang for Cunt(s) ( women). The 1610 edition which is in verse, seems to run through the Months of the year and refers to their,  behavior and sexual activities , according to the change of the season. Carrington appears to be listing  Coyntes  by status.

Coyntes of Dames and of Damoiselle
Coyntes of stout Burgess , and of Maiden
Coyntes of Servants , or of Convent- cell

I am inclines to think that Carrington has combined elements of  our 1610 edition and other titles hence  the text at the end of “The Old Man” is explicit and bawdy, full of characters with ridiculous names and some very peculiar sexual habits.

Christies States, that a rare , privately commissioned volume from the late Victorian era contained an 18th century copy of our book along with a selection of other titles all bound together, which they described as a ”  Fine collection of four facetious poems in the style of Rabelais, reprinted in the early 18th century. Entirely rubricated and bound in contemporary olive green morocco.”

Books for Trade: L’;Arétin français, par un Membre de l ;Académie des Dames 1803

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