HOWELL, James (1594-1666). [Therologia.] The Parly of Beasts; or, Morphandra Queen of the Enchanted Land. London: W. Wilson for William Palmer, 1660.

First edition of Howell's satire of humanism. "Therologia remains a small jewel of wicked whimsy. Formed in the fires of England's Civil War, it speaks with relevance and sure-footedness in response to the optimisms and pessimisms of its day. Read in hindsight, it is a text full of gimlet-eyed foresight in an era many have labelled the Anthropocene and others, more cynically, will call the Misanthropocene. Howell's tale of Pererius, the wandering philosophical Ulysses seeking to restore humans back to their proper shape and stature, is full of mischief for anyone who wishes to see humanity as headed solely in one damned direction" (Arnaud Zimmern, author of an online annotated documentary edition of Howell's text). The only volume published. Wing H3119.

Folio (250 x 150mm). Half title, two engraved plates, lacking 4 pp. key (without pastedowns; a little fraying to margin of title; worming through second half of book, grazing a few letters and touching margin of second plate; small loss to margin of one leaf). Contemporary calf (rebacked). Provenance: ownership inscription to title page.