[BARBE (Simon)]. - Lot 7

[BARBE (Simon)]. Le Parfumeur royal, ou Traité des parfums, Des plus beaux Secrets qui entrent dans leur Composition, & de la Distillation des Eaux de Senteur & autres Liqueurs précieuses. Paris: Saugrain l'aîné, 1761. - In-12, 167 x 92: (1 f.), 242 pp. miscalculated 142, (2 ff.). Marbled calf, ornate spine, red edges (period binding). Rare new edition, revised, corrected and enlarged, published under a new privilege dated May 29, 1761. In addition to a treatise on perfumes, the work includes chapters on soaps, ointments, hair powders, large violet powders, eaux de senteur, pastilles for burning, liqueurs and perfumes for the mouth, and distillation. This is an important edition in the history of perfumery. In fact, previous treatises referred to the use of mineral and metallic cosmetics, which some doctors had identified as being harmful to health. It wasn't until the 18th century and this edition that these cosmetics were unreservedly condemned by the competent authorities. This edition only saw the light of day after Guettard, the king's first physician, requested that "compositions in which litarge, blanc de plond (sic), sublime corrosif, alum and nitre are used" be removed (see approval). Fine copy in contemporary binding. Small loss at upper head.