Essay on the Subject of the Jews of Poland - Warsaw, 1796

Essay on the Subject of the Jews of Poland - Warsaw, 1796
Essai sur l’état actuel des Juifs de Pologne et leur perfectibilité [Essay Concerning the Present State of the Jews of Poland and their Perfectibility], [by Jacques Calmanson]. Warsaw, 1796. French.
Essay on the condition of the Jews of Poland, by Jacques Calmanson (1722-1811), a physician and member of the Polish Enlightenment. Calmanson was the private doctor of the King of Poland. In addition he translated works from Hebrew and Yiddish for the king and served as mediator between representatives of the Jewish communities and the King's secretary. He wrote the present essay following the occupation of Warsaw by the Prussians. Calmanson called for extensive changes in the Jewish community in Poland, criticizing the Jews' communal autonomy (particularly the rabbinical courts and their use to expel members from the community), and the rise of Chassidism in Poland.
[7] leaves, [1], 10-31, 16 pp, 18.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Creases and some tears. Open tears to bottom right corners of about 15 leaves, restored with paper (mostly without damage to text). The title page is cut and restored with paper. Cardboard binding, somewhat damaged (bound with back wrapper, front wrapper missing). Stamp on inner side of front cover and labels on the cover. Pen inscription, from the period, on the back wrapper (French).