Extremely rare first edition of a popular textbook on snuff and also the first work of its kind by Jean Royer de Prade (1640-1685). We have only been able to trace one copy in institutions and four in sales records. The present copy comes from the library of Maurice Edmond Sailland (1872-1956), also known as Curnonsky and the Prince of Gastronomy, who was one of the most celebrated French writer on gastronomy in the 20th century.
The work starts with a catalogue of the names, the kinds and the habitats of tobacco. Together with methods to cultivate the tobacco-plant and the application of tobacco as a medicine. After this introduction we find a dissertation on the smoking and snuffing of tobacco, where snuffing turns out to be a much better way to consume tobacco. One of the advantages of snuffing tobacco is, according to De Prade, that the complexion is greatly improved by the use of snuff. The sneeze and its advantages are also described. Finally he treats the practical part of how to prepare snuff by grinding the tobacco-leaves in a mortar, straining the powder, aromatizing it etc. And a further elaboration on the employments of snuff as medicine and benefitting results of the use of snuff are given.
With the round bookplate of Maurice Edmond Sailland (Curnonsky, 1872-1956), and the leather bookplate of Michel de Bry (1890-1970) mounted on the front pastedown. The corners of the boards are scuffed, the boards are somewhat rubbed, the joints are weakened, but the structural integrity of the work is still intact. A water stain in the fore edge margin of the leaves, not affecting any text. Otherwise in good condition. Arents II 300; Krivatsy 9251; Sabin 2758; Quérard, Littéraires dévoilées 452 b; USTC 6131683 (1 copy); not in Chadenat; Church; JCB.