Statement of responsibility: Attributed to the marquis d'Argens (originally by the marquis de Sade, in Histoire de Juliette) and to Arles de Montigny, among others. Cf. Barbier, A.A. Ouvrages anonymes, IV, col. 708-709. For discussion of authorship question and explanation of the scandal on which the tale is based and of the anagrammatic names in the title, as well as reproductions of the plates in several editions, cf. Thérèse philosophe : erotische Kupferstiche aus fünf berühmten Büchern / Nachwort von Jacques Duprilot. c1982. Cf. also introd. to Thérèse the philosopher / by Jean-Baptiste de Boyer, marquis d'Argens ; translated by H. Smith. c1970.
Date: Date of publication from Gay and other authorities, based on dates of books mentioned in pt. 2 (latest was published 1748) and the fact that the work itself was mentioned in correspondence in Feb. 1749. Date given as 1745 in Weller, E. Die falschen und fingirten Druckorte, p. 199 (in entry for 6th ed., Paphos (i.e. Bouillon), 1775; gives no corrected place of publication for this ed., apparently the first).
Content: Vol. 1: VIII, 140 p., 6 leaves of plates; v. 2: 72 p., 7-16 leaves of plates.
Content: Illustrations: 16 prints : etching ; full-page. "Les seize grandes eaux-fortes ... ne sauraient être réellement du comte de Caylus, auquel on [Sade, Barbier] les a attribuées ... Elles sont d'un dessinateur français, peut-être Pesne"--Gay. Reproduced in: Œuvres anonymes du XVIIIe siècle. v. 3. c1986. (L'Enfer de la Bibliothèque nationale ; 5).
Content: Vignettes on title pages: 2 prints : woodcut ; 33 x 25 mm. Subject: Devices resembling the globe devices used by the Elzeviers.
Content: Each page of text has type flower border.
Citation/reference: Gay, J. Bib. de l'amour, III, col. 1211-1212
Citation/reference: Apollinaire, G. L'Enfer de la BN, 402
Citation/reference: Pia, P. Livres de l'Enfer, II, col. 1317