[CHALON, Renier e.A.]

Annular agathopedic and saucial Printed by the iconographic presses at the Congrève of the order of the Agath Brussels A. Labroue et cie [1849] In-8°, 130 pp, illus. + 4 plates of music. First edition, only edition. One of 350 copies, ex non num. This yearbook presents the statutes of the Society defined by the "Bureau des Platitudes et des Ephémorroïdes", gives the agathopedic calendar whose months have a name of dish (Huitrinaire, Crêpose, Jambonose, Truffose, Boudinal, Canardinal, Petitpoisidor...), proposes the various activities of the class of Bêtes-laides or Sciants (biblical agathopedic courses, gynofulope construction, pinopenal legislation....) Bound in 3/4 chagrin, gilt title on the spine, dull corners, gilt edges A hoax publication of this society, composed not of "students and young rapins", but of characters "occupying prominent positions: members of the Academy, lawyers, university professors, archivists, general officers, architects, artists with proven talent..." hiding under animal nicknames. The motto "Friends like pigs! Anything for a duck!" bound the members who pledged to prefer champagne to lemonade. The "Grand Master, Grondart I, le Pourceau", was the historian Antoine Schayes, but the Society also included the chansonnier Félix Bovie, Renier Chalon (who did not stop there in the matter of hoaxes, cfr Bibl. Fortsas, where he mocked bibliophiles), Louis Huart (known as Grumbert le Blaireau) who illustrated several comic books, the architect Ballat, the bookbinder Schavye... and Alexandre Dumas père who was solemnly received on January 15th 1852. The typography of the work has recourse to the Masonic symbolism. Ref. Oberlé, Bacchus, 1139; Encyclopédie des farces et attrapes, 27-32; Bibliophiles belges séant à Mons, (1912), p. 33-37