The Ephesian Matron by Charleton, Walter - 1975

London (In The Savoy): Henry Herringman, 1668. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Very Good. Frontispiece. Frontispiece With Two Finely Engraved Scenes "The Ephesian Matron" And "The Cimmerian Matron"; Title, With "Love & Wit."; 9 Pp A Letter Concerning The Ephesian Matron: To A Person Of Honour"; 80 Pp; Title Page The Cimmerian Matron, To Which Is Added, The Mysteries And Miracles Of Love, By P. M. Gent", 1668; 23Pp, "To The Author Of The Ephesian Matron"; 31, 32-77 Pp. [The Second Section Being "The Mysteries And Miracles Of Love"]; Catalog "Some Books Printed For Henry Herringman...", Including "Ben. Johnson's Second Volume", Probably Unsold Remaining Stock Of The Ben Jonson 1640 Folio, Herringman Having Acquired The Rights And Unsold Stock In 1667. This Copy Includes The Frontispiece With Short Title, Thus A First Title Page, And The Second Title Page Without Illustration, Other Copies Usually Lacking One Or The… Read More

London: Printed for Henry Herringman, 1659, 1659. First edition. ESTC R210048; Wing C3671; Mish, English Prose Fiction, 1600-1700, page 35; NCBEL I, 2058. Bound a little tightly; two mended tears, without loss; very good copy.. Small 12mo, late 19th century brown half smooth calf, brown cloth sides, gilt lettering. Text interleaved with old laid paper, but without annotations. A rare work of prose fiction by prolific writer, physician and philosopher William Charleton (1619-1707), a short philosophical tale based on the story of a woman from the legendary ancient city of Ephesus: "The Ephesian Matron: Based on the Tale in the 'Satyricon' of Petronius . . . is an attack on the fashionable cult of Platonic love of [Charleton's] day, in which he insists that physical love and lust are both manifestations of 'an appetite to procreation'. Charleton sees his lascivious heroine as an Epicurean who lives by 'the simple dictates of mother-Nature'" - John Henry in the ODNB. Provenance: small round stamp of… Read More