Description

Giphantie: A first edition of an imaginative work that describes a utopian community and prefigures the uses of photography, television, and the telephone. Written by physician, polymath, and author Tiphaigne de la Roche (1729-1774), “Giphantie” is a notable example of the imaginary voyage genre. In the story, the protagonist is transported to a beautiful garden by a spirit guide and shown around a vaguely utopian society.

Technological Advances: The book is renowned for its detailed discussion of various technical advances, including early concepts of televisions and telephones. It is considered a milestone in the pre-history of photography due to its elaborate explanation of fixing fleeting images formed by light.

Binding and Accompaniments: This copy is bound together with Pierre Honoré Robbe de Beauveset’s rococo poem “Mon Odyssée ou le Journal de Mon Retour de Saintonge” (La Haye, 1760), illustrated with four engraved plates. De Beauveset was an influential French writer known for his satires and erotic works.