[BERNARD, Jean-Frédéric] In Praise of Hell. Ouvrage critique, historique, et moral. La Haye P. Gosse junior 1759 2 vols. in-12 : front-[2]-viii-x-265, vi-365 pp; 15 h.-t. (light wetness in qqs. sup. margins of vol. I, pl. p. 54 of same vol. partly unbound, qq. spots in vol. II). Contemporary marbled calf, boards framed in triple gilt fillet with small fleuron at corners, gilt spines with fleurons, red edges (slight rubbing, upper head of vol. I missing, upper head of vol. II def.). First edition of this "spiriturel work somewhat reminiscent of Erasmus' Éloge de la Folie" (Dorbon). Treats of: "Excellence of hell by its situation", "Eagerness of the whole human race to go to hell", "By whom are occupied the first places of hell" and the following ones, of who lives in hell: monks, secular clergy, the "secular" mother...of the usefulness of hell, "One lives there from pair to companion with what the Earth had of greater", "It is the stay of the sçavans, the philosophers, the historians [...]", of the university and the academies, "Piety & repentance reign in the hells", etc. Illustrated with a frontispiece, 15 plates, 3 bands, 4 culs-de-lampe and 2 identical title vignettes. By bookseller Bernard (1683?-1744), refugee in Amsterdam, author of translations, critical editions, etc. Sometimes also attributed to Bénard. Ref. Barbier II:71. - Cohen 130 (Bénard as author). - Dorbon 291. - Caillet 1021 ("Curieuse satire").