[Richter, Joseph. Bildergalerie weltlicher Misbräuche, ein Gegenstück zur Bildergalerie katholischer und klösterlicher Misbräuche.

€ 200.00

First edition; extremely rare: the third instalment of Joseph Richter's (1749-1813) panoply of abuses, "very interesting for its appealing engravings, often showing Viennese localities" (cf. Hayn/Gotendorf). Following his 1784 writings on the decline of Catholic and monastic standards, Richter here criticises wedding celebrations, card games, lotteries and dancing, as well as libraries, pharmacies, prisons, fashion and the excessive use of titles. The present volume is organized in 20 chapters, each treating a different aspect of human life and showing an allegorical illustration.

Wants the title-page and the engraved frontispiece. Paper somewhat browned, brownstained and fingerstained throughout; a large tear in the first page of the foreword rebacked with Japan paper; small flaws to the bottom right-hand corners of a few pages (no loss to text); top right-hand corner of the last page torn and rebacked with paper. From the library of the Viennese collector Werner Habel with his ownership stamp to flyleaf.