Legal arguments against chastity belts

FREYDIER, M.

[CHASTITY BELTS]. Plaidoyer de Mr. Freydier avocat a Nismes, contre l'introduction de Cadenas, ou Ceintures de chastete. Reimpression sur l'edition originale de 1750 et augmentee d'un avant-propos

Paris: Jules Gay, 1863. Hardcover. 16mo. xv, [1], 56 pp. With 2 engraved plates depicting different models of "ceintures de chastete" i.e. chastity belts (trifle foxed). Bound by [Cyprien] Lhuinte of Grenoble, green half morocco over blue marbled boards (spine a little sunned, extremities slightly worn), top edges gilt, others untrimmed. Very good. Item #2388

Highly curious work containing a legal argument against forced use of chastity belts -- unknown to David Murray "Lawyers' Merriments." ¶ From the preface (unsigned, but by Gustave Brunet): "There exists few trials as bizarre as this one, and we believe that the case involving Master Freydier remains unparalleled in the annals of legal literature" (translation). ¶ THE CASE: Pierre Berlhe (age 36) "seduced" Marie Lajon (age 18), imprisoned her and forced her to wear a chastity belt after she had refused to marry him. She lodged a complaint with the civic authorities, and retained the counsel of Nimes attorney Freydier (his first name is not recorded). The lawyer here describes in considerable detail the chastity belt in question, while embellishing his legal argument with references to Genesis, Plato, Saint Jerome, Saint Isidore, and others. ¶ First printed in 1750, ours is the first illustrated edition, with 2 highly finished engravings of the aforementioned belt. Edition limited to 100 copies on papier verge, published by Jules Gay, the great bibliographer of human sexuality. ¶ The binder of our copy, Cyprien Lhuinte of Grenoble, remained unknown to Flety. ¶ PROVENANCE: unidentified armorial (lion rampant supported by two lions rampant) surmounted by the crown of a count, with motto "Vigor Invirtute." ¶ Gay, Amour, III, 753-4.

Price: $750.00