[MANUSCRIT]. [DEMARVILLY]. The dangers of love and the power - Lot 94

[MANUSCRIT]. [DEMARVILLY]. The dangers of love and the power of reason. First part. In French, manuscript on paper France, 18th c. 4]-105 pp, preceded and followed by 2 ff. of paper endpapers, one volume out of two, the second volume is missing, cursive writing in brown ink, ruled in pale red ink, Bound in 18th century red morocco, spine with five raised bands, lettering and tomaison gilt (volume I only), triple gilt filleting on the boards, gilt coat of arms in the centre of the boards, roulettes on the edges and inside, combed marbled paper endpapers, edges gilt. Some stains and spotting, corners dulled. Dimensions : 185 x 240 mm. Bound with the arms of Marshal Charles de Soubise containing a volume of the manuscript dedicated to the Marshal. This text is unpublished. Dedication " To his highness the Marshal Prince de Soubise ", signed " La tres humble et très obeissante servante De Marvilly ". Charles de Rohan (1715-1787), prince of Soubise and Epinoy, duke of Rohan and Ventadour, had a military career favoured by Louis XV, of whom he was a close friend, and the latter's favourites, notably Mme de Pompadour. In 1759 he became a minister of state. He made three successive marriages, with a La Tour d'Auvergne, a princess of Carignan and a princess of Hesse-Reinfels. This manuscript contains the first part of an epistolary exchange composed by a woman " Demarvilly " putting in scene the following characters: Gésoncourt, a knight, a viscount, Hortense, Cécile, Lucie, Mélanie. Incipit: "At the castle of xxx. First letter. Hortence to Lucie. No, my friend, reason no longer has an influence on me, I listened to her a few times, her advice seemed to me to be a blessing, but today my heart is deaf to her voice... [...] My friend, my dear Lucie, how happy you are, how I envy your fate! You are the delight of those who know you... but speaking of happiness, is it true that you thought of getting married, what madness... Men are monsters, you saw the proof... "(pp. 1-2). Provenance : 1. Dedication manuscript, with the arms of Charles de Rohan (1715-1787), prince of Soubise and Epinoy, duke of Rohan and Ventadour. - 2 This manuscript with arms was described in the following sale catalogue: Catalogue of bibliographical curiosities, rare, precious and singular books, manuscripts, historical pieces and autograph letters, collected by the Bibliophile voyageur. The sale will take place on Friday, March 1, 1839, in Paris, by Messrs. Déodor and Leblanc, 1838 [date of publication of the catalogue], no. 367: "Les dangers de l'amour et le pouvoir de la raison, by Demarvilly, 2 vol. in-4, mar. r. arm. Unpublished manuscript. This confirms that there were two volumes and the unpublished character in 1838/1839. - 3. Henry-Humbert de Lambilly (1832-1871), his armorial bookplate pasted on the upper left corner. Engraved bookplate with arms "Azure, six cinquefoils argent, three, two and one". Motto "Qui qu'en grogne" and legend "Point gesné, point gesnant".