Inscribed by the author

Gedik, Simon. Defensio sexus muliebris, opposita futilissimae disputationi recens editae, qua suppresso authoris & typographi nomine blaspheme contenditur, mulieres homines non esse.

€ 2,500.00

First edition; with autograph inscription by the author, the theologian Simon Gediccius (1551-1631).

The most important literary reaction to the scandalous anonymous anti-feminist polemic, "Disputatio nova contra mulieres, qua probatur eas homines non esse" (no place, 1595; VD 16, ZV 4618), which had denied the humanity of women (and thus their capacity for salvation). The pamphlet sparked a surge of 16th and 17th century satires. The theology department in Wittenberg warned its students against reading the book, while the Leipzig Professor of Hebrew, Simon Gediccus (1551-1631), published an apology of the female sex in which he refutes the pamphlet word for word.

Extremeties bumped, spine damaged, slightly browned throughout due to paper. Autograph inscription by the author to the theologian Michael Geringius of Halle: "Reverendo et doctiss. viro Dn. M. Michaeli Geringio pastori Eccl.ae Halensis ad D. Mauritii etc. ddi. author". Small green bookplate of the Groningen professor of medicine Jacob Baart de la Faille (1795-1867) to verso of the front board, as well as a handwritten note: "Thèse curieuse et fort rare [...]".

Very rare, not in German auction records since 1950.