Földvári Books

Scarron’s Poem Praising America

[Scarron, Paul]

[Caption title:] Reflections politiques et Morales, tant sur la France, que sur l’Amérique. Par un pauvre Diable.

[S.l. (Paris?)]: [S.n.], [1652?]. One of the first editions. . In modern cardboard. 8 p. Pages restored at the gutter. The second and last leaves slightly over-trimmed at the outer edge, shaving the marginal note. Otherwise in fine condition.

Scarce Americana, Scarron’s mazarinade, praising America. Supposedly published in 1652, the year when Scarron planned to leave Paris for Cayenne in the West Indies, escape the misery in Europe, and flee from the Fronde and the Cardinal Mazarin. Scarron describes America as a calm place, with no cold, war, or taxes, especially where there is no Cardinal Mazarin. Published anonymously, with no imprint, but the poem also appeared with the title Adieu du sieur Scarron fait au roi sur son départ pour l’Amérique. Scarce on the market, no record in RBH.

Sabin 0; Moreau 3063 (variant); Gagnon (Bibl. Canadienne) 2954; Magne (Bibl. […] de Scarron) 94; Literature: Kullberg, C. (2020). Lire l’Histoire générale des Antilles de J.-B. Du Tertre. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill. pp. 55–56 doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004434967.

Price: €5,000.00