BOUHOURS (Dominique). The Way of thinking well... Lot 43

[BOUHOURS (Dominique). The Way of thinking well in the works of mind. Dialogues. Paris : Veuve de Sébastien Mabre-Cramoisy, 1687. - In-4, 257 x 185 : (4 ff. first blank), 402 pp. 14 ff. Red morocco, triple gilt fillet and gilt coat of arms in the center of the boards, richly decorated spine, gilt border inside, gilt edges (period binding). First edition illustrated with four intaglio-cut culs-de-lampe. Dominique Bouhours was a professor at the college of Clermont. A "worldly Jesuit", author of religious and polemical books, he frequented the circles of Madame de Sévigné and Mademoiselle de Scudéry; he was also an authority on the proper use of French, Racine in particular sent him his plays to correct. In this work he reflects on the modes of expression of philosophers and writers, and gives a theory of the "ingenious thought" which he exposes with the help of four dialogues between Eudoxe (the one who thinks rightly) and Philanthe (the one who likes what shines). A precious copy in red morocco of the period, with the coat of arms of Louis Hyacinthe Boyer de Crémille (1700-1768), affixed during his lifetime, in the 18th century. He was successively officer, lieutenant-general of the King's armies (1757), general administrator of the Hôtel Royal des Invalides, superintendent of the École Royale Militaire (1758) and director general of fortifications and engineering (1760). The copy was later acquired by Nicolas Jean Baudelot de Rouvray, captain of the king's bombers, and then by the art historian Roger Portalis (1841-1912). Some wear rubbing to the covers and corners. Some foxing. Provenance: Louis Hyacinthe Boyer de Crémille, with his arms on the boards. - Nicolas Jean Baudelot de Rouvray, with ex-libris engraved by Corlet. - Roger Portalis, with bookplate.