Erotika Biblion. First edition.

Rome: Imprimerie du Vatican, 1783 . 8vo. iv, 192pp.,Contemporary qtr. calf and marbled boards, with old repairs.. Front hinge cracked but solid. Later portrait pasted on inside front cover. Rare. Not in OCLC.. Erotika Biblion (1783) is a book by Comte de Mirabeau first published pseudonymously (a Rome, de l'Imprimerie du Vatican) in 1783. The biblion in the title refers to "book" in general and the bible in particular.The book laments the fact that during the translation of the bible, the sexual practices dating from Antiquity related in the Old Testament were translated using euphemistic language. It also treats the concept of elective affinities, bible studies and bible translation, effluvia, sympathism; and mentions the obscure 17th century astronomer Jeremy Shakerley.Henry Marchand in The Erotic History of France calls it one of "the strangest books ever written." Marchand further notes that "the whole edition of this work was confiscated immediately so that only fourteen copies of it are extant today. It was naturally placed on the Index, too, under the title of Amatoria Bibliorum. Subsequent editions met the same fate but the book has reproduced itself."[MIRABEAU] – EROTIKA BIBLION. Rare EDITION ORIGINALE.« Rome, Imprimerie du Vatican, 1783 ». Volume in-8, IV-192 pages, reliure demi veau usagée, dos lisse orné, charnières fendues. Quelques piqûres. Ouvrage qui a sa juste place dans « l’enfer » de la Bibliothèque National