Susanne Schulz-Falster Catalogue Ten

Tarantella Dance
278 SERAO, Francesco. Della Tarantola o sia Falangio di Puglia.
Lezioni Accademiche. Napoli, 1742. £1800
4to, pp. ii, 260; engraved title vignette and decorative initials; some
browning and spotting throughout, due to paper quality; contemporary
full vellum, gilt-lettering directly to spine.
First edition, uncommon, of this medical and psychological assessment of
the phenomenon of the Tarantola or Tarantella dance, a trance like ecstatic
dance. The origin of this dance is found in a therapeutic ritual, carried out
to fend oV the eVects of being bitten by the tarantola, the wolf-spider.
Popular belief was that the bite of this spider caused a disease called
‘tarantismo’, which led to a period of melancholy and ultimately death. The
only way to avoid death was a frenzied, uncontrollable dance, set to music,
and called the ‘tarantella’.
Serao studies the phenomenon in depth, beginning with the natural history
of the ‘tarantola’, with extensive reference to classical natural historians,
contemporary reports, and scientif study. The second, more
substantial, part is devoted to the study of the related frenzied dance, and its
origin in popular superstition, mixed with the perceived eVects of the spider’s
venom. Serao gathers the evidence, citing both medical literature and
contemporary eyewitness reports. After careful consideration he maintains
that the Tarantella cannot be wholely attributed to the venom of the spider,
nor that it can have such a strikingly diVerent eVect on the people of Puglia.
He comes to the conclusion that it is the music, that has the hypnotic eVect.
The Tarantella has become a part of musical repertoire, and one of the better-known
pieces, called ‘Antidotum Tarantulae’, the treatment for the spider
bite is even incorporated into Tchaikowsky’s Swan Lake.
Searo (1702–1783), one of the best-known naturalists and medical scientists
of the Neapolitan Reign, member of the Paris Academy of Sciences
and the London Royal Society.
In Wellcome, RLIN and OCLC locate further copies at New York Public Library,
the British Library and Edinburgh University.
A Nation in Arms
279 [SERVAN, Joseph.] Le Soldat Citoyen, ou Vues Patriotiques
sur la Maniere la plus avantageuse de pourvoir à la Défense du
Royaume ... Dans le Pays de la Liberté [Neufchâtel], 1780. £900
8vo, pp. [iv], 640, [2] errata; decorative head and tail-pieces, numerous
tables within the text; bound in contemporary full mottled calf, spine
decoratively gilt in compartments, gilt-lettered spine label, extremities
lightly rubbed, a Wne copy, with engraved armorial bookplate on verso
of title.
First edition of this revolutionary analysis of the position and function of
the army within the state which culminates in the proposal of the citizen
susanne schulz-falster rare books catalogue ten
army, which became the standard after the revolution. The work has also
been attributed to Guibert, the author of the well-known Traité de Tactique,
but it appears to be conWrmed that this work is by Servan.
Beginning with the proposition that the army should be useful for the
state, not just in war but also in peace time, Servan Wrst analyses how troups
are recruited, how they are supported, their remit and their discipline. His
most important suggestions, however, concern the citizen soldier – when
not needed for active duty, soldiers should work in agriculture and in public
works projects. Furthermore they should be allowed to marry, which in
turn would lead to population increase and beneWt both state and army.
Some of his suggestions sound remarkably similar to those of Turgot as
controller-general.
Servan (1741–1808) was minister of war from 1792, and later on head
of the Republican army. Denounced by Robespierre, he was imprisoned
during the terror, but became head of the army in 1799.
Barbier IV, 515, Cioranescu 18th, 31489; INED 4165; RLIN records copies at
Stanford, Princeton, Yale, and Cornell; see Charnay, Jean Paul. Guibert ou le Soldat
Philosophe, Chateau de Vincennes, 1981.
280 SHERER, John. An Abridgement of Crabb’s Dictionary of
English Synonymes. Penzance, E. Paddy, 1845. £60
Tall 12mo, pp. [ii], iii, [i] blank, 114, some spotting; original
publisher’s pink glazed cloth, rebacked, printed label to upper board;
corners a little worn; contemporary ownership inscription on front
paste-down and free endpaper.
First abridged edition. Attractive Penzance printing of this dictionary of
synonyms, abridged from Crabb’s dictionary, Wrst published in 1816.
Words of similar or related meaning are presented together and their relative
impact is explained.
Not in Kennedy, who only lists a later publication by Sherer entitled The desk-book of
English synonyms, (1864).
281 SILVESTRE, Augustin-François de. Essai sur les moyens
de perfectionner les Arts Economiques. Paris, Madame Huzard
[1801]. £340
8vo, pp. x, 11–176; recent half-calf over marbled boards, spine
decoratively gilt.
First edition of a detailed analysis of the use of agriculture within the French
economy. Inspired by Chaptal’s Essai sur le perfectionnement des Arts
chimique en France, Silvestre deplores the present state of agriculture in
France. He sets out to improve the situation through education. Special
schools are to be set up for all diVerent branches of economics and agriculture.
In addition to this, model farms are to be set up as an inspiration to the
local community, and botanical gardens and ‘economics museums’ are to be
encouraged. Silvestre also promotes an oYce for translations so that pub-