De la flagellation dans la médecine et dans les plaisirs de l'amour [.].

12mo (92 x 142 mm). (2), 141, (1 [instead of 3]) pp. With engraved frontispiece, woodcut title-vignette, head- and tailpiece. Contemporary giltstamped full calf with gilt triple rules to covers and giltstamped green morocco label to decorated spine, leading edges gilt. Marbled endpapers. Top edge gilt. Rare third edition of this popular treatise on flagellation by the German physician Meibom (1590-1655), the first treatise devoted to the transformation of physical pain into sexual pleasure. Originally titled "De flagrorum usu in re venerea et lumborum renumque officio" ("On the use of rods in venereal matters and in the office of the loins and reins", 1629), Meibom's work at once became an authoritative text, advanced to a bestseller on the subject, was translated into several languages, and saw reissues well into the 19th century. This French translation by Claude-François-Xavier Mercier de Compiègne (1763-1800) was previously published in 1792 and 1795. Unlike the earlier editions, the present one does not include the Latin text, but instead features the poem "L‘amour fouetté" by the French poet Louis Fuzelier (1672-1752) on pp. 123-127. - Paper occasionally brownstained. Contemporary ink ownership to verso of frontispiece. Lacks the second (final) leaf of publisher‘s advertisements at the end. A single copy of this pretty edition in auction records. - Gay/L. I, 807 (note). Graesse IV, 465 (note). OCLC 906582657. Cf. Krivatsy 7722. Waller 6448. Wellcome IV, 104. Hayn/Gotendorf II, 298 (earlier ed.).