MINOT, Jacques Lot n° 15

- De la Nature et des causes de la fièvre. Paris: Laurent d'Houry, 1701. Dedication copy, bound in contemporary red morocco, with super-libris of Guy-Crescent Fagon (1638-1718), first physician to King Louis XIV, also one of the main players in the development of the Jardin royal des plantes médicinales, the first avatar of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle. Saint-Simon described him as "one of Europe's finest and finest minds, curious about everything related to his profession, a great botanist, a good chemist, a skilled surgical expert, an excellent physician and a great practitioner. He also knew a great deal; there was no better physicist than him, and he even understood the different parts of mathematics. Very selfless, an ardent friend but an unforgiving enemy, he loved virtue, honor, value, science, application and merit. Despite Fagon's autograph note, mounted at the head of the volume and accompanying the loan of the copy to a colleague, the book was obviously never returned to him. In fact, it is missing from the catalog of the sale of the library of the doctor's son, Louis Fagon, intendant des finances and patron of Jean-Baptiste Oudry. This third edition is enlarged with a few remarks on opium. In-12 (162 x 91 mm). Contemporary red morocco, super-libris in gold lettering on upper cover: "G.C. FAGON PREMIER MEDECIN DU ROY.", triple gilt fillet in frame, ornate ribbed spine and boxes, letter "G" stamped on tail box, gilt roulettes on spines and endpapers, marbled paper endpapers, gilt edges (discreet repairs to spines and some corners). Provenance: Guy-Crescent Fagon, first physician to the king (1638-1718; super-libris). Mounted at the beginning of the volume following the endpapers, a short autograph bill signed by Fagon to an unknown addressee, accompanying the dispatch of the copy: "as you may Monsieur need this memoir to make the observations I have requested, I am sending it to you. Please send it back to me with your observations...". -- Alexis de Redé (bookplate). The presentation copy, with the supra-libros of Guy-Crescent Fagon, head physician of Louis XIV and director of the Royal Gardens. To bid, please consult the "Sales information" section.