Curiosa.- Flatulence.- [Hurtaut (Pierre Thomas Nicolas)] L'Art de Peter, Essay Théori-Physique et Méthodique, first edition, engraved frontispiece, frontispiece and title spotted and browned, contemporary ink manuscript acquisition notes to front and rear endpapers, from the renowned library of curiosa of F.Rolland de Lastous with his small gilt-stamped oval book-label, attractive contemporary red morocco, gilt, spine gilt, g.e., very slightly rubbed, a little spotting to lower cover, 12mo, "En Westphalie, chez Florent-Q, rue de Pet-en-Gueule, au Souffler" [i.e.Paris, Jean-Baptiste Langlois], 1751.

⁂ Rare first edition of this scatological work on farting. Displays of such later became a popular stage show in nineteenth century Paris, with one celebrated practitioner "Le Pétomane" being able to perform La Marseillaise. WorldCat locates only a handful of copies. It was reprinted in 1776.