MONCRIF, Francois-Augustin Paradis de.

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Moncrif's Cats. First edition thus; number 8 of 100 copies specially bound by E. W. Hiscox. Moncrif (1687-1770) was a French writer, courtier, and academician now best known for his Histoire des Chats, first published in 1727. In letter form, Moncrif discusses the role of cats throughout history and his work can be read both as a satire of pedantic academic writing and a sincere tribute to the domesticated feline. "Let us calm ourselves... one day we shall see the merits of Cats generally recognized. It is impossible that we should not come to feel that in our Cat we possess a friend who is the best of company, an admirable Pantomimist, a born Astrologer, a perfect Musician, in short the union of the talents & the graces" (p. 104-5).

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