BEAUMARCHAIS (Pierre-Augustin Caron de). Memoirs of Mr Caron de Beaumarchais. sl, sn, 1775. 2 vols. in-8 marbled calf, smooth spine decorated, title and appendix, red pages (contemporary binding). Frontispiece by Marillier repeated in both volumes (without the portrait mentioned by Cohen, and found in some copies). These two volumes of memoirs are sometimes completed by a third volume entitled "Œuvres complettes" and containing the plays. Well complete in itself. The first edition of Caron de Beaumarchais' memoir of the famous Goezman affair dates from 1774. This affair, which excited the French and European public and the press of the time, began on July 17, 1770 with the death of the financier Joseph Paris Duverney. The latter had made testamentary dispositions in favour of his associate, Beaumarchais, dispositions that were soon strongly contested by the Count de La Blache, the financier's universal legatee. Although Beaumarchais won the first instance against La Blache in 1772, the famous criminal judge Goëzman was relentless and took over the case in 1773. Several months of twists and turns followed, during which Beaumarchais published these satirical and very virulent Memoirs against the judge and his entourage, which caused a scandal at Court. The affair ended on February 26, 1774: the Parlement de Paris condemned Beaumarchais to a reprimand and a fine (the latter having lost his civic rights, he would not rest until he regained the favour of the Court), Beaumarchais' memoirs had to be torn up and burned, and Goëtzman resigned from his office. Covers slightly worn. A fine copy. (Cohen 127; Tchemerzine II, 32.)