KNIGHT (Richard Payne). An Account of the Remains of the Wor - Lot 261

KNIGHT (Richard Payne). An Account of the Remains of the Worship of Priapus, lately existing at Isernia, in the Kingdom of Naples [...] to which is added, A Discourse on the Worship of Priapus, and its Connexion with the mystic Theology of the Ancients. London, Printed by T. Spilsbury, 1786. In-4°, long-grained red morocco, gilt serrated roulettes framing the boards, fleuron at the corners, ornate smooth spine, gilt edges (pastiche binding). FIRST EDITION. Eighteen plates, including the first frontispiece and eleven full-page plates. From the Robert de Billy library, with bookplate. Period annotations on title page: "Presentation Copy from the Society of Dilettanti to Dr Combe - see back of title page" and on verso of title: "Presented to Dr. Combe // april 1st 1707 // By a Vote of the Society of Dilettanti // as an acknowledgment of the usefull assistance // Received from him by the author // in the prosecution of this work". RICHARD PAYNE KNIGHT WAS A MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY OF DILETTANTI. Slight foxing to frontispiece and title, but a fine A FINE COPY OF THIS RARE WORK ON THE ANCIENT RITUALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRIAPIC CULT, PRINTED IN AN EDITION OF ABOUT 80 COPIES, NOT IN TRADE. REDFORD (Bruce). Dilettanti. The Antic and the Antique in Eighteenth-century England. Los Angeles, The J. Paul Getty Museum & The Getty Research Institute, 2008. Chap. 5; p. 113. Provenance: French private collection Erotica Monsieur X Expert: Cabinet REVEL