F-14. [TORCHE, Antoine de?]. La Toilette Galante de l'Amour. Paris: Loyson, 1670. 12mo. (4), 246pp, (2), plus engr. frontispiece. 19th century half-calf over marbled boards. Very rare first edition of this semi-erotic collection of tales for the amusement of women. The frontispiece depicts a well-dressed woman in her private quarters, attended by her maid as well as a host of cherubim; presumably hinting at where such literature was consumed. The topics include an intriguing if indeed platonic “Mariage d'amitié entre deux belles" (one of whom takes the role of ‘husband’, pp. 106-126) as well as advice to a newly-married woman (p. 140); advice to a mistress (p. 238); a dialogue on painting (p. 35); and so on. The Toilette Galante de l'Amour (1670) is sometimes mistaken as a re-edition of an earlier work, La Cassette des Bijoux (1668); however this is an error. Both works were probably authored by Torche, but the contents are very different. OCLC: Cornell, LC (both copies lacking frontispiece!). The Folger holds the Cassette des Bijoux." Ordered from David Rueger D9774, 2025-10-31, Cat. "WOMEN CAN BE SAVED!" item F-14
