Voyage Philosophique au Japon, ou Conférences Anglo-Franco-Bataves

First edition, scarce: a witty and urbane discussion of everything from the rules of Japanese society to the French Compagnie des Indes. The unknown author's reflections on religion and satirical comments on Europe, meant that the work must have been skirting very close to being censored.

Presumably published in Paris, the imprint is meant to refer to l'Ebahi's stately home, the Chateau de Pressure, in a salon of which the three main characters, the much-travelled Monsieur l'Ebahi ("Mister Flabbergasted"), the Englishman "Thincker" and the Dutchman "Wurtzheim" are comfortably seated as they swap tales of their marvellous adventures not only in Japan but throughout Asia. The whole story is told with such brio that it could almost pass for actual reportage, if it were not for the knowing interjections of the author, who says at the outset that the only philosophical lesson worth learning is to admire the teachings of Democritus and be amused by the foibles of mankind.

The work does appear quite rare, with copies recorded in the British Library and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, but with apparently few others.